The City Council Friday is expected to consider confirming the appointment of Jaime Moore as the new chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

On Wednesday, the council’s five-member Public Safety Committee recommended Moore to the position. His appointment will be decided by the full council Friday.

He told committee members that he supports an independent investigation into the department’s handling of the Lachman Fire, and later fueled the devastating Palisades Fire — a move Mayor Karen Bass called for.

“Our members were not listened to and were not heard,” Moore told committee members during the Nov. 12 meeting. “That is why I am supporting Mayor Bass’s request for an independent investigation in to the Lachman Fire, because I want to get to the bottom of it.”

Moore emphasized that he would work to hold the department accountable and move them forward.

The Los Angeles Times reported that firefighters who responded to the Lachman Fire told a battalion chief that the fire was smoldering, but were told to leave the site. Santa Ana winds lifted the smoldering fire, reigniting what would become the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people.

In October, Bass named Moore as the next chief, who would be the second Latino to serve in the position and the first Spanish-speaking chief.

“Our work together will focus on reforming the LAFD to better prepare Los Angeles for major emergencies and the upcoming major events coming to our region,” Bass said at a downtown news conference to introduce Moore on Oct. 24. “And also we will work to improve responses to 911 calls citywide. I’m proud to appoint an Angeleno to this role, and know he will work to improve the LAFD for everyone in this city. And I can think of no better leader for the thousands of heroes of the Los Angeles Fire Department whose bravery keeps us safe every day.”

Moore will replace Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva, who came out of retirement to fill the post following Bass’ firing of former Chief Kristin Crowley.

“It is an incredible honor to have been nominated to serve as fire chief of this world-class organization, one built on courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people of Los Angeles,” Moore said. “To the members of the LAFD — sworn, civilian and volunteers — thank you for your dedication and professionalism. You are the heart of this department, and my priority is to support you to ensure your safety, your growth and your ability to serve to the highest standard. Together we will continue advancing a culture rooted in integrity, respect and teamwork.

Moore, who was serving as deputy chief in charge of the LAFD’s Operations Valley Bureau, has been with the agency since 1995. He was born in Louisiana but raised in Los Angeles, graduating from Santa Monica High School and UCLA. He has a master’s degree in public administration and emergency management from Cal State Long Beach.

The United Firefighters of Los Angeles, the union representing LAFD firefighters, endorsed Moore as the next chief.

Crowley, the former chief, was ousted Feb. 21, questioning what she called the department’s failure to pre-deploy about 1,000 firefighters the morning of Jan. 7, when a dramatic Santa Ana wind event sparked the deadly Palisades Fire that destroyed much of the upscale community. Bass also cited Crowley’s alleged refusal to prepare an after-action report on the firefight — an allegation Crowley has denied. The mayor also contended that Crowley had failed to give her a weather update prior to the historic windstorm as she had done for other potentially dangerous weather events, despite such warnings being widely publicized for several days prior to Jan. 7.

Crowley filed a damages claim against the city in August, alleging her firing was an act of retaliation for her public comments that the mayor’s budget cuts and the city’s alleged decades of neglect had left the LAFD under-funded, under-staffed and ill-equipped to handle the rising demands of a growing city.