LA Fire Department’s DEI Agenda Criticized After Resurfaced Comments From Controversial Leader

In 2023, Los Angeles launched a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Bureau to enforce its agenda within the fire department, including rooting out “bigoted” firefighters. At the forefront of this initiative is Kristine Larson, a Black lesbian promoted to lead the charge.

Larson made headlines in 2017 when she became the first African American woman promoted to battalion chief in the Los Angeles Fire Department. Her qualifications include a master’s degree in public service leadership with an emphasis on emergency management from Capella University and a DEI certification from Cornell University. She is also part of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program, which aims to promote DEI initiatives across the fire service nationwide.

This week, a video of Larson resurfaced that has drawn criticism. In the video, recorded before last week’s catastrophic California fires, Larson defends DEI-driven hiring practices and addresses concerns about whether female firefighters possess the physical ability to perform life-saving tasks like carrying someone out of a burning building. Her response, “He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire,” has sparked backlash, with many questioning whether such comments inspire public confidence in the department’s ability to handle emergencies.

Critics argue that Larson’s comments—and the broader DEI agenda—prioritize ideology over competence, raising serious concerns about the safety and readiness of firefighters under her leadership. With California facing devastating fires and increasing public scrutiny, the controversy underscores growing frustration with DEI policies in critical public safety roles.