Fact check: An LAFD assistant chief acknowledged that she couldn't carry a man out of a fire and that it was his fault for being in that situation.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is largely accurate but requires context. LAFD Assistant Chief Kristine Larson did make the controversial statement "He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire" ^{[1] [2]}. The comment was made during a video discussing the department's diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were omitted from the original statement:

• The LAFD is actively working on diversity and inclusion initiatives, with Chief Kristin Crowley being the first woman to lead the City Fire Department ^[3]
• Only about 8% of LAFD candidates are currently female ^[3]
• Physical strength is not considered the primary measure of firefighting capability, as experts note that most calls are for medical services, not fire rescue ^[4]
• The statement was made as part of a broader discussion about emergency responders "looking like" the communities they serve ^[5]
• The controversy occurred during a period of severe wildfires in the Pacific Palisades ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement presents the quote without crucial context, potentially creating a misleading narrative:

• It fails to mention that this was part of a larger discussion about diversity and representation in firefighting ^[5]
• The statement omits that the LAFD is actively working to address diversity challenges while maintaining service quality ^[3]

Competing interests at play:

• Traditional firefighting advocates benefit from emphasizing physical strength requirements
• DEI proponents benefit from highlighting the changing nature of firefighting work, with medical calls being more common than fire rescues ^[4]
• Critics of DEI initiatives use such statements to argue that the LAFD is prioritizing diversity over effective firefighting ^[1]