After she was ousted, Crowley decided to remain in the department at a lower rank, an option she had under civil service protections.

The procedural step, which is afforded by the City Charter, is unlikely to succeed. But it could cause more public agita for Mayor Karen Bass.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday she has fired Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, citing in part her response to last month’s devastating Palisades wildfire, among the most destructive in California’s history.