Overview
- Federal investigators say the New Year’s Day Lachman Fire smoldered underground for about a week and reignited on Jan. 7 as the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people.
- Los Angeles Times–reviewed texts indicate firefighters reported smoldering ground and hot rocks on Jan. 2 but were told by a battalion chief to roll up hoses and leave.
- An ABC7-obtained “Hose and Equipment Recovery” memo shows hose left for potential flare-ups at the site was taken back on Jan. 3.
- LAFD Chief Deputy Joe Everett, the incident commander, says he believed the burn was out at the time, acknowledges in retrospect the withdrawal was a mistake, and says the department will use heat-detecting drones over burn scars.
- Prosecutors allege an Uber driver started the Lachman Fire, and officials including Mayor Karen Bass declined or did not return requests for comment in recent reporting.