Federal investigators revealed that the recent Palisades fire was reignited from a smaller earlier blaze, provoking scrutiny of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Records obtained by the Los Angeles Times challenge LAFD’s claims that they adequately mopped up the Lachman fire prior to its reignition. Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva stated that firefighters returned to the site to conduct thorough checks, but dispatch logs showed they found no smoke and canceled further response within 34 minutes.
The recent after-action report on the Palisades fire inadequately addressed earlier issues from the Lachman fire, where firefighters had warned of lingering hot spots before being pulled from the scene. Critics argue that omitting this information suggests a cover-up and hinders learning opportunities from past mistakes. Newly appointed Fire Chief Jaime Moore expressed frustration at the media’s portrayal of the firefighters but has committed to investigating the Lachman incident. Mayor Karen Bass demanded an independent review to ensure transparency and accountability in the department’s fire response.
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