Megyn Kelly Criticizes LAFD Leadership Amid Firefighting Crisis

Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly has sparked controversy with her recent comments on the leadership of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), particularly targeting Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, Training and Support Bureau Commander Jaime Brown, and Deputy Chief in Equity and Human Resources Bureau Kristine Larson. Amid ongoing criticism that the city’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives compromised its ability to combat devastating wildfires, Kelly’s remarks have added fuel to an already heated debate.

On her podcast, Kelly bluntly criticized the physical fitness of these high-ranking female officials. “These three women at the top are all, I mean honestly, I’m not trying to be mean, but they’re obese,” she stated. Kelly continued her attack, expressing skepticism about their capability to perform in life-threatening scenarios, adding, “The last thing I want to see if I am in a burning building is A) a woman and B) an obese woman.”

Her comments were met with immediate backlash, as many deemed them offensive and discriminatory. However, others echoed her concerns, questioning whether LAFD leadership has prioritized hiring based on DEI efforts over physical readiness and operational efficiency.

Contrasting Opinions on Rescue Capabilities

Kelly’s criticism starkly contrasts with remarks made by Deputy Chief Kristine Larson in a resurfaced 2019 video. In the video, Larson argued that fire victims might prefer to be rescued by someone they identify with, stating, “It gives that person a little bit more ease, knowing that somebody might understand their situation better.” Larson also appeared to place some responsibility on victims, controversially stating, “He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire.”

Larson’s past remarks have reignited a wave of frustration, particularly as Los Angeles faces one of its worst fire disasters in history. With at least 24 people dead and over 200,000 residents displaced, critics argue that fire department leaders should be focusing on enhancing operational effectiveness rather than promoting social inclusion.

Budget Cuts and Resource Shortages

Beyond personnel concerns, the city’s financial decisions regarding the fire department have also come under scrutiny. Mayor Karen Bass has been accused of undermining LAFD’s ability to respond effectively by slashing its budget in recent years. Just two months ago, the department requested nearly $100 million to replace aging fire trucks and other critical resources, citing excessive maintenance costs and equipment failures.

While the department’s budget had increased from $674.27 million in 2019 to a projected $819.64 million in 2025, it took a significant hit this year, dropping from $837.19 million in 2024. A December memo from Fire Chief Crowley highlighted how a $17.6 million budget cut negatively impacted essential services, including training, payroll, and fire prevention efforts. Further leaks revealed that Mayor Bass had ordered an additional $49 million in cuts, potentially leading to the closure of 16 fire stations.

The Costliest Disaster in U.S. History?

According to AccuWeather, the financial toll of these fires could reach an unprecedented $250 billion to $275 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Meanwhile, critics have pointed to questionable spending priorities, highlighting allocations such as $190,000 for a homeless and HIV needle exchange program and $100,000 for Juneteenth celebrations.

A Debate Over Priorities

The unfolding crisis has reignited a debate over the balance between diversity initiatives and the need for a highly capable emergency response team. While inclusivity remains an important goal, critics argue that operational effectiveness must remain the top priority in life-or-death situations.

As Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, the focus will likely remain on whether leadership and policy decisions played a role in the severity of the crisis—and whether the city will take steps to ensure a more prepared firefighting force in the future.

Kelly, a former Fox News host, took special aim at Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, Training and Support Bureau Commander Jaime Brown and Deputy Chief in Equity and Human Resources Bureau Kristine Larson amid criticism that the city focused too much on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to properly prepare forces to battle the fires.

‘These three women  who are at the top there are all, I mean honestly, I’m not trying to be mean, but they’re obese,’ Kelly said on her podcast Monday. ‘These are overweight, out of shape women.

‘And the last thing I want to see if I am in a burning building is A) a woman and B) an obese woman,’ she continued.

‘Who takes comfort [in that]? “I’m going to die, but it’s in the presence of an obese lesbian,”‘ Kelly asked rhetorically, before she started to laugh at the notion.

‘This is ridiculous,’ she said.

‘I speak for all women – I believe  speak for all females in Los Angeles – when I say: We want a strong man to rescue us. That’s what we want,’ she concluded.

‘Do we ask for too much?’

Megyn Kelly hit out at the three female leaders of the Los Angeles Fire Department for their weight in her podcast on Monday

She took special aim at Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, Training and Support Bureau Commander Jaime Brown and Deputy Chief in Equity and Human Resources Bureau Kristine Larson

Kelly’s comments came in stark contrast to remarks Larson made in a now-viral video from 2019, in which she insisted residents want to be rescued by someone with whom they identify.

‘It gives that person a little bit more ease, knowing that somebody might understand their situation better,’ Larson said.

She also seemed to blame helpless fire victims for their need to be rescued as she addressed concerns that female firefighters may not be strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building.

‘He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire,’ Larson stunningly claimed.

Her comments infuriated many online, as the deadly blazes claimed the lives of at least 24 people and left more than 200,000 residents having to flee their homes.

‘Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief #KristineLarson should NOT be in her position if a heavy man is someone she won’t even consider rescuing from a fire,’ one California resident posted on X.

‘She’s better off working at Walmart or McDonalds.’

Larson has been ridiculed online for insisting in a 2019 video that residents want to be rescued by someone with whom they identify

Is fitness really important for emergency services?

Other city officials have also come under fire, namely Mayor Karen Bass, who slashed the fire department’s budget in the years before the massive fires erupted.

In fact, the LA Fire Department was left begging the city’s council to approve nearly $100million to replace its entire fleet just two months ago.

‘Many vehicles have surpasses their expected service life, leading to increased maintenance costs, reduces parts availability and potential downtime,’ the department wrote in its request after years of depleted funds.

The department’s budget steadily grew from from $674.27million in 2019 to $819.64million in 2025, but it faced a significant fall this year from $837.19million in 2024.

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote in a December memo that the cut of $17.6million ‘adversely affected the Department’s ability to maintain core operations, such as technology and communication infrastructure, payroll processing, training, fire prevention, and community education.’

She also noted there was a $7million reduction in overtime pay.

AccuWeather estimates that the damage and economic losses from the blazes could be anywhere from $250billion to $275billion, marking the nation’s costliest disaster ever

The wildfires in Southern California have taken the lives of at least 24 people and displaced more than 200,000 residents

Yet a leaked memo last week revealed that Bass demanded the LAFD make an additional $49million budget cut, on top of the $17.6million cut.

The extra cuts, requested just days before fires broke out and devastated swathes of Los Angeles, would have shut down 16 fire stations and crippled the department’s ability to respond to emergencies, sources previously told DailyMail.com.

Meanwhile, the larger Los Angeles County has been accused of throwing money at DEI initiatives while cutting its own firefighting budget.

Fox News reported that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on initiatives including $14,010 to the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, $190,000 to the Homeless and HIV needle exchange program, and $100,000 of county funds to pay for Juneteenth celebrations.

But now, AccuWeather – a company that provides data on weather and its impact – estimates that the damage and economic losses from the blazes could be anywhere from $250billion to $275billion, marking the nation’s costliest disaster ever.