Redacted Reports on Palisades Fire Fire Chief’s Admission

This week, the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) disclosed that the post-mortem analysis of the significant Palisades fire had been edited multiple times to safeguard the interests of leadership, according to a recent report.

Cal Fire indicated that the Palisades Fire, which ignited in January 2025, ranks as California’s third most devastating wildfire in history.

During a meeting of the Los Angeles Fire Commission on Tuesday, Chief Jamie Moore acknowledged the report. He mentioned that various drafts had been altered to tone down the language in the final report and lessen direct criticism directed at departmental leaders. Moore stated, “This edit was made before I was appointed fire chief, and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again while I serve as fire chief.”

In November, an anonymous letter surfaced, addressed to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and city council members Marquise Harris-Dawson and Tracy Park. This letter alleged that the after-action report concerning the Palisades fire was not sufficiently thorough, primarily because the preparations were overseen by the same officials who were involved during the blaze.

Moore also commented on the LAFD’s response to the Luckman Fire, a small wildfire that began in the Pacific Palisades on January 1, 2025, which ultimately contributed to the larger Palisades Fire. He noted that their response was inadequate, stating, “The fire department truly believed the fire was completely extinguished, based on the information, circumstances, and procedures available at the time.”

Reports indicated that despite the hot tree stump left from the Lachman Fire, firefighters were ordered to vacate the area. A review of firefighter communications revealed that on January 2, a battalion chief instructed them to abandon the site, which eventually led to the reignition of the fire due to strong winds on January 7, resulting in the destruction of approximately 7,000 buildings and claiming 12 lives.

Moore remarked that the department has already changed its protocols to integrate drone technology into their operations to improve post-suppression assessments, situational awareness, and the detection of lingering heat.