It’s official: Jaime Moore is the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Mayor Karen Bass Friday swore in Moore as the next LAFD chief after the LA Council unanimously voted to confirm him.
Moore, who previously served as the commander of operations for the fire department’s Valley Bureau, has over three decades of experience. He’s also the department’s first Spanish-speaking and second Latino chief.
“My mission is straightforward: to strengthen our connection with the communities we serve, to enhance our preparedness and resilience, and to ensure that the Los Angeles Fire Department continues to work toward being a model of excellence and trust,” Moore said.
Mayor Bass appointed Moore on Oct. 24, nine months after former Chief Kristin Crowley was fired. Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva led the fire department while the city searched for a replacement.
“Today marks an important and inspiring moment for Los Angeles and for our Fire Department,” Mayor Karen Bass Friday. “As we continue strengthening our emergency response and implementing a suite of reforms, I know he will work to make every neighborhood safer.”
During his confirmation hearing, Moore said the past year has been one of the most difficult in the city’s history. He acknowledged the toll the January fires took on both residents and firefighters, and said he will work to restore confidence in the fire department’s leadership.
He also said he supports an investigation into the department’s response to the fires and that he reviewed the 42 lessons from the fire department’s Palisades Fire after-action report. One of his priorities will be to address and ensure that every recommendation is completed.
Additionally, Moore cited the importance of preparing for major global events, as LA is set to host the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics in the next few years. He also emphasized strengthening the department’s disaster readiness and committed to better overall public safety.
While working for the fire department, Moore earned a master’s degree in Emergency Services Administration from Cal State Long Beach and completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
“Those experiences in the field, in the classroom, and in leadership have prepared me for this moment (and) deepened my commitment to the people of Los Angeles,” Moore said.
Moore grew up in the Mar Vista and Venice area, attending Santa Monica High School and graduating from UCLA before beginning service with the department in May 1995.
While leading the department’s Valley Bureau, he supervised five battalions, 39 fire stations, and over 950 personnel and civilian staff, according to the LAFD website.
Crowley was removed from the department on Feb. 21 following the January fires.
Bass said Crowley refused to put together an after-action report, an accusation Crowley denied. The mayor also alleged that Crowley did not provide Bass with a weather update before the Santa Ana wind event that sparked the Palisades Fire.
Crowley filed a damages claim against the city in August, asserting that her removal was retaliation for comments she made alleging the fire department was underfunded and understaffed.
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