LA firefighters claim they were told to abandon site that eventually became Palisades fire: Report

Los Angeles firefighters recently indicated that the Pacific Palisades fire was avoidable because they were told to leave a burn site in January that became the fire, despite the ground still smoldering, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

The Pacific Palisades fire, which began January 7, resulted in the deaths of 12 people and burned through thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area. 

The firefighters, whose identities were not disclosed, said that their battalion chief on January 2 told them to leave the area, even though he was told that it would be a "bad idea" to leave the burn scar uncovered because of smoldering terrain.

The previous fire, dubbed the Lachman fire, was allegedly deliberately set and was later rekindled by strong winds into the destructive Palisades fire. A suspect has been arrested in connection with the fire.

Interim Los Angeles Fire Chief Ronnia Villanueva has denied the allegations that the department failed to properly handle the Lachman fire, stating it was because of an undetectable "holdover fire."

"Holdover fires can be nearly impossible to detect with infrared imaging, as smoldering often occurs deep below the surface, especially in chaparral terrain where dense root systems conceal residual heat," Villanueva said in a statement earlier this month.

"Under extreme winds, low humidity, and prolonged drought, these fires can reignite despite full suppression and containment efforts," he continued. "The January 7 fire was not a rekindle or due to failed suppression but the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire under extraordinary wind conditions." 

The Los Angeles Fire Department has also released its after-action report and Villanueva said the department has made several changes to protect the city from future fires, including strengthening interagency coordination, upgrading communications technology, and enhancing wildfire training and evacuation drills.

Numerous lawsuits have already been filed based on complaints that the city and state failed in their preparations and response to the January 7 fire, according to the L.A. Times report. A U.S. Senate committee has also opened an inquiry into the matter.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.