Firefighters working the site of a small brush fire in Los Angeles that officials initially declared contained were ordered to leave the origin site despite hot tree stumps, according to a review of firefighter text messages by the Los Angeles Times. The firefighters’ battalion chief told them to pack up their hoses and depart the area on Jan. 2, one day after the Lachman Fire was declared contained. Then on Jan. 7, heavy winds reignited smoldering roots from the same area, sparking the Palisades Fire, which burned some 7,000 structures and killed 12 people.
One firefighter wrote in January that crews at Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Station 69 in the Pacific Palisades were surprised they were given the order to depart the area, as the site was still hot. The firefighter was informed about the remaining heat when the crews moved out, according to the newspaper’s review of the texts. The firefighter mentioned that the order to leave the area was unexpected, but they couldn’t ignore the commands given by their superiors.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the firefighters were also upset when they were ordered to leave the scene but couldn’t challenge the orders. In another text message, a firefighter who was at the site on Jan. 2 said the battalion chief was informed it was a “bad idea” to leave the burn scar unprotected because of visible signs of smoldering terrain. The firefighter highlighted the potential danger of leaving the area unattended, especially given the risk of rekindling.
The LAFD Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said earlier this month that 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. He explained that 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. Under extreme winds, low humidity, and prolonged drought, these fires can reignite despite full suppression and containment efforts. This highlights the challenges faced by firefighting crews in such environments.
The article also mentions Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old from Florida, who is facing federal charges in relation to the Palisades Fire. The incident has drawn significant public attention, with various individuals and entities expressing their views on the matter. The Palisades Fire has had a profound impact on the local community, leading to calls for improved fire management practices and greater accountability in emergency response procedures.