The Los Angeles City Council on Friday confirmed the appointment of Jamie Moore as the new Los Angeles Fire Chief.
In a 12-0 vote, the board approved Moore as the next chief – the second Latino to hold the position and the first Spanish-speaking chief. Moore will replace interim chief Ronnie Villanueva, who resigned to take over the post after Bass fired former chief Christine Crowley.
Council members Nitya Raman, Isabel Jurado and Tim McOsker were absent during the vote.
“We have before us a man who is not only qualified to be our next fire chief, not only because of his understanding of the department, but because of his understanding of where this department needs to go,” said Councilman John Lee, chairman of the council's public safety committee.
Earlier this week, the five-member committee voted unanimously in favor of Moore.
“I always appreciate when we find someone in their respective department who rises to the top because it shows their commitment not only to that department, but to our city,” Lee added.
Moore, who served as deputy chief of the Los Angeles Valley Operations Bureau, has been with the agency since 1995. He was born in Louisiana but grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Santa Monica High School and UCLA. He received a master's degree in public administration and emergency management from California State University, Long Beach.
Moore said he supports an independent investigation into the department's handling of the Lachman New Year's Eve fire.which authorities say ignited a week later and became a devastating fire in the Palisades. Mayor Karen Bass called for an outside investigation into the fire.
Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Jamie Moore said he is fully occupied with the investigation into the fire department's handling of the Lachman fire, which smoldered before becoming the Palisades fire.
“The past year has been one of the most challenging in our city's history,” Moore said. “The Palisades fire tested every part of our organization and took a heartbreaking toll on our residents and our firefighters.”
He emphasized that he will continue to defend the interests of the department.
“At the same time, I recognize that we are at a crossroads not only for our department but for the public trust,” Moore said, referring to the media attention that has raised concerns about the department and city's response to the January fires.
Moore said the department needs to review and examine its response system and cleanup operations at the Lachman Fire.
The Los Angeles Times reported that firefighters responding to the Lachman fire told their battalion chief that the fire was still smoldering but were ordered to leave the scene. A few days later, Santa Ana winds kicked up the smoldering fire, reigniting what would become the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people.
Moore said he wants to prepare the department for future disasters, improve pre-deployment policies and strengthen staffing levels, and be ready for events such as the World Cup and Olympics.
Councilwoman Tracy Park, who represents Pacific Palisades and is a member of the Public Safety Committee, thanked Moore for his responses and willingness to discuss the events that occurred on Jan. 7.
“You have the trust and support of your members and I trust that you will fight for them. We need your leadership and we are all counting on you to bring truth to power, restore that trust and modernize a fire service that is dangerously behind the times,” Park said.
Council members representing the San Fernando Valley said they welcome a leader who knows the communities they lead.
“I’ve seen your dedication in the short time I’ve been here,” said Councilwoman Imelda Padilla, who represents northeast SFW and whose district includes the Sepulveda Basin, which is a frequent hotspot for wildfires.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done in collaboration with my office to bring serious attention to the Sepulveda Basin. I look forward to seeing how we continue to solve the problems that are needed there,” Padilla added.
In October Bass names Moore as next leader.
“Our work together will be focused on reforming the LAFD to better prepare Los Angeles for major emergencies and upcoming major events that will take place in our region,” Bass said at a downtown press conference to introduce Moore on Oct. 24. “We will also work to improve response to 911 calls throughout the city. I am proud to appoint a Los Angeles resident to this position and know he will work to improve LAFD for everyone in this city. And I can't think of a better leader for thousands of heroes. from the Los Angeles Fire Department, whose bravery keeps us safe every day.”
Moore said at the time: “I am incredibly honored to be named Fire Chief of this world-class organization built on courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people of Los Angeles. To the members of the LAFD – sworn, civilians and volunteers – thank you for your dedication and professionalism. You are the heart of this department, and my priority is to support you to ensure your safety, your growth, and your ability to serve at the highest level. Together we will continue to develop culture. based on honesty, respect and teamwork.”
United Firefighters of Los Angeles, the union representing LAFD firefighters, has endorsed Moore as the next chief.
Crowley, the former chief, was fired Feb. 21, and the mayor questioned what she called the department's failure to proactively deploy about 1,000 firefighters on the morning of Jan. 7, when dramatic Santa Ana winds sparked a deadly fire in the Palisades that destroyed much of the upscale community. Bass also referred to Crowley's alleged failure to prepare a post-shooting report, an allegation Crowley denied. The mayor also alleged that Crowley did not provide her with weather updates ahead of the historic hurricane, as she did for other potentially severe weather events, despite such warnings being widely publicized for several days leading up to Jan. 7.
In August, Crowley filed a lawsuit against the city for damages, alleging that her firing was an act of retaliation for her public comments that the mayor's budget cuts and alleged decades of neglect by the city had left the LAFD underfunded, understaffed and ill-equipped to meet the growing needs of the growing city.
