Mayor Karen Bass on Friday named Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Jaime Moore as the new chief of the agency.
His appointment is subject to the approval of the City Council. If approved, he will be the second Latino to serve in the position and the first Spanish-speaking chief.
“Our work together will focus on reforming the LAFD to better prepare Los Angeles for major emergencies and the upcoming major events coming to our region,” Bass said at a downtown news conference to introduce Moore. “And also we will work to improve responses to 911 calls citywide. I’m proud to appoint an Angeleno to this role, and know he will work to improve the LAFD for everyone in this city. And I can think of no better leader for the thousands of heroes of the Los Angeles Fire Department whose bravery keeps us safe every day.”
Moore will replace Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva, who came out of retirement to fill the post following Bass’ firing of former Chief Kristin Crowley.
“It is an incredible honor to have been nominated to serve as fire chief of this world-class organization, one built on courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people of Los Angeles,” Moore said. “To the members of the LAFD — sworn, civilian 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 to the highest standard. Together we will continue advancing a culture rooted in integrity, respect and teamwork.
“As your next chief, I will work to implement strategic changes that reflect what the department needs and what Angelenos deserve,” he said. “Those changes include preparation for major disasters, including pre-deployment and staffing; preparation for upcoming world events like the World Cup, the Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games; improving morale and the culture within the Los Angeles Fire Department, ensuring our department is equipped with the essential resources, staffing and the support that is needed; increasing innovation; adoption of technology; and the use of data to keep Los Angeles safe.”
Moore, who was serving as deputy chief in charge of the LAFD’s Operations Valley Bureau, has been with the agency since 1995. He was born in Louisiana but raised in Los Angeles, graduating from Santa Monica High School and UCLA. He has a master’s degree in public administration and emergency management from Cal State Long Beach.
Moore’s appointment earned quick approval from United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union that represents LAFD firefighters.
“United Firefighters of Los Angeles City looks forward to working with Jaime Moore as the next Fire Chief of the @LAFD,” the union wrote in a statement on X. “The LAFD is the most understaffed and under-resourced fire department in the country and we need to ensure our firefighters and paramedics have the resources they need to serve the city of Los Angeles effectively. Throughout his career with the LAFD, Chief Moore has shown strong leadership and a deep commitment to the department. His background and experience within the ranks has demonstrated that he’s the right leader at the right time to move the LAFD forward.”
Crowley was ousted Feb. 21, questioning what she called the department’s failure to pre-deploy about 1,000 firefighters the morning of Jan. 7, when a dramatic Santa Ana wind event sparked the deadly Palisades Fire that destroyed much of the upscale community. Bass also cited Crowley’s alleged refusal to prepare an after-action report on the firefight — an allegation Crowley has denied. The mayor also contended that Crowley had failed to give her a weather update prior to the historic windstorm as she had done for other potentially dangerous weather events, despite such warnings being widely publicized for several days prior to Jan. 7.
Crowley filed a damages claim against the city in August, alleging her firing was an act of retaliation for her public comments that the mayor’s budget cuts and the city’s alleged decades of neglect had left the LAFD under-funded, under-staffed and ill-equipped to handle the rising demands of a growing city.