The Los Angeles Fire Department has released an internal review regarding its chaotic response to the Palisades fire, but it notably does not clarify what caused the fire. There are new allegations suggesting it may have been ignited by an earlier fire that officials failed to completely extinguish.
On Wednesday, federal investigators suggested that the most destructive wildfire in California’s history was likely sparked by a prior incident known as the Lachman Fire. This fire, initiated by firefighter Jonathan Linderknecht on January 1st, is at the center of the investigation.
Arson investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicated that the smoldering embers from the Lachman Fire remained dormant for six days before being reignited by the Palisades fire.
The LAFD’s 70-page report released Wednesday did not include these emerging details.
Starting on January 7, the Palisades fire rapidly escalated, driven by intense winds that devastated over 6,000 structures.
Interestingly, the report does not directly connect the Lachman Fire to the Palisades Fire, only referencing a call from a captain who suspected that the Lachman Fire had reignited.
Instead of addressing the specific causes, the report emphasizes “perfect storm” conditions like dry vegetation, extremely high winds, and a lack of water that set the stage for catastrophic fires.
Even with awareness of the fire risks, Mayor Karen Bass left the city for a trip to Africa while the fires wreaked havoc thousands of miles away.
Firefighters, many stretched thin and dealing with exhaustion, fought tirelessly against the flames. It seems that overwork and fatigue significantly impacted their performance, complicating safe decision-making.
The report noted, “Physical fatigue raised performance and safety concerns,” pointing out that exhaustion and lack of sleep hindered effective actions. There was also a significant breakdown in communication right after the fire broke out, which meant some crews were left to operate without direction.
The report revealed that responsibility for specialized resources devolved to individual company leaders, which led to informal assignments and a lack of accountability.
Moreover, the evacuation orders seemed to be disorganized and unclear, leading to traffic chaos as residents tried to evacuate their neighborhoods.
Delays in issuing evacuation notifications and alerts resulted in chaotic evacuations without organized traffic management, thus obstructing access to critical routes for the public during the emergency.
