Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley is facing a wave of anger over wildfires in the state that have forced thousands to evacuate their homes.

Authorities said the four fires, which have burned more than 4,000 hectares, have not yet been contained. Some firefighters have also reportedly reported that the fire hydrants were dry, preventing them from stopping the fires.

Such reports have led some social media users to condemn Crowley’s leadership of the fire department.

Newsweek emailed Crowley’s office seeking comment.

Why it matters

Two deaths have been reported as a result of the fires so far. The fires continue to pose a threat to human health and result in hazardous air quality conditions that pose serious health risks.

Levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in the air are expected to reach harmful or higher levels.

This means that “every individual may experience health impacts such as difficulty breathing and a sore throat, while sensitive groups could experience more severe effects,” according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women and older adults.

Meanwhile, the fires have also caused schools to close and left hundreds of thousands of homes without power.

What you should know

Four fires are currently burning in Los Angeles, including the Eaton Fire near Altadena, which has burned 1,000 acres, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, which has burned 2,900 acres so far, and the Hurst Fire north of San Fernando, that burned 500 acres.

In the last hour or so, a fourth, smaller fire – the Tyler Fire – was reported by the state fire marshal in Riverside County and is currently burning about 15 acres.

Authorities say none of the fires have been contained and that there is “no way” they can be brought under control. According to the LA Fire Department, the situation remains “very dangerous” and wind speeds are “deteriorating.”

The Los Angeles Times It was also reported that some firefighters battling the fires said over internal radio systems that the fire hydrants were running dry, meaning they didn’t have enough water to put out the fire.

A spokesperson for the LA Department of Water & Power confirmed reports of reduced water flow from fire hydrants, but did not provide details on the number or extent of the problem. In a statement on Los Angeles TimesThe agency said crews were working to maintain water supplies, which rely on water tanks.

The extent and cause of the problem remain unclear. Similar hydrant problems hampered firefighting efforts at the Ventura County mountain fire in November, when inactive water pumps delayed water delivery to the hillsides.

Given these issues, Crowley faces scrutiny.

Who is Kristin Crowley?

Crowley is the first woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold her post. She is married to retired firefighter Hollyn Bullock.

Her nomination came after former Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas resigned amid mounting criticism that he had not done enough to stop sexist and racist behavior within the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said at the time that he nominated Crowley for the position not because of her gender, but because of her skills and adeptness in dealing with public safety challenges.

“I look at who is the best, not just who makes history,” Garcetti said at a news conference. “The protection of our city must first and foremost benefit the people who are best prepared to lead it. But I want to be clear: This is Kristin Crowley. And this progress is incredibly important and long overdue.”

When she was nominated for her position in 2022, she had been with the fire department for 22 years and had served as a firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, firefighter and assistant chief. In 2016, she became Los Angeles’ first female firefighter. When she took the fire service exam in the late 1990s, she was in the top 50 of 16,000 applicants.

Accepting the nomination, Crowley said, “As fire chief, I pledge, if confirmed, to take a strategic and balanced approach to ensuring we meet the needs of the community we serve. We will focus our efforts on increasing our operational effectiveness and improving firefighter safety and well-being and are fully committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture within the LAFD.”

What people say

The MAGA Voice X account wrote: “The Los Angeles fire chief focused more on LGBTQ initiatives than filling water reservoirs.”

Commentator Rogan O’Handley, aka DC Draino, wrote on X: “On the left is the LA fire chief allowing her city to burn down without water in the fire hydrants. On the right is the New Orleans police chief who allowed a terrorist attack on Bourbon without roadblocks. DEI is literally killing people.” Bring back merit.”

What happens next

Firefighters and rescue workers continue to work to fight the fires and evacuate residents from their homes.

Winds are expected to ease in Santa Ana on Thursday as the storm system moves away from the region, providing some relief to affected areas.