A newly compiled timeline of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles suggests the city's fire department may have allowed smaller blazes to gain a foothold and burn through large swaths of the city. , suggesting the real problem may have started days before the fire started.
The timeline is Compiled by the Washington PostIt took the Los Angeles Fire Department at least 45 minutes to respond to a call of smoke in a wooded area near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and by the time they arrived, the blaze had spread to more than 10 acres, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Suggests.
The blaze quickly spread to 200 acres, and strong winds fueled the flames, sending embers up to two miles away and ultimately burning nearly 30,000 acres across the county.
And this fiasco may have started a few days earlier by another accident – a fire that broke out on New Year's Eve in the exact same area, was poorly extinguished and smoldered in the forest for several days before it flared up again. Theorized the Washington Post based on detailed analysis. Satellite imagery, radio communications, photos, videos, and witness interviews.
January 1st:
- midnight: Firefighters respond to the Lachman Fire northeast of Pacific Palisades.
- 4:46am.: The Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished the fire after burning eight acres.
January 7th:
- 10:15am.: Pacific Palisades homeowner resident Michelle Valentine saw smoke near the scene of the Lochman Fire. His wife called 911 to report the fire, according to the Washington Post.
- 10:33am.: Firefighters radioed that they reported seeing smoke and said they needed to divert resources from two other ongoing fires.
- 10:45am.: According to the Washington Post, Valentine called 911 again but got a busy signal.
- 10:48am.: Firefighters are radioing warning that the fire is moving in the wind and could spread to 100 acres.
- 11am.: The first firefighters arrive at the scene of the fire.
- 11:28am.: Fire has grown to 200 acres, according to radio communications.
- 11:30 – 11:45 am: Valentine saw the first fire truck arrive in his neighborhood.
- 12:20pm.: First evacuation orders issued in Pacific Palisades.
- 1:40pm.: The LA Fire Department reports the fire is currently approximately 300 acres and growing.
- 7:30pm: Fire grows to nearly 3,000 acres.
- Until 9pm: Fire reaches heart of Pacific Palisades
