LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former Los Angeles fire chief ousted by Mayor Karen Bass after the most destructive wildfire in the city's history sought Tuesday to reclaim her job, with unionized firefighters arguing that the chief was axed without justification after publicly criticizing City Hall for shortchanging the department.

Former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley lost an appeal to get her old job back in a hearing Tuesday before the City Council that included the 25-year department veteran’s first extensive public comments about the events that led to her firing.