LOS ANGELES, CA – Investigators continue to search for answers in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history. Authorities are now focusing on whether the blaze, which killed 12 people, destroyed more than 6,800 structures, and burned over 23,000 acres, may have started at or near the site of a smaller fire that broke out days earlier.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has deployed its elite National Response Team to the scene, following more than 250 leads and analyzing over 90 hours of video and audio recordings. While the official cause remains undetermined, early evidence suggests a possible link between the Palisades Fire and a smaller blaze known as the Lachman Fire, which erupted on New Year’s Eve.
Satellite images show the burn scar from the Lachman Fire, which scorched approximately eight acres before being contained by water-dropping helicopters and ground crews. Six days later, as powerful winds swept through Southern California, smoke was seen rising from the same location.
Residents in the area reported hearing fireworks around the time the Lachman Fire started, raising speculation that the blaze may have been human-caused. “I heard a loud bang and saw a white flash to my backside,” said Ari Sallus, who lives near the burn site. “Someone lit fireworks and it started a fire.”
Firefighters responding to the Palisades Fire on January 7 also noted the proximity of the flames to the site of the earlier fire. “The foot of the fire started real close to where the last fire was on New Year’s Eve,” one firefighter said. Another added, “We’re going back up where the Lachman Fire was.”
While investigators have not confirmed whether the Lachman Fire directly led to the Palisades Fire, experts say it is possible that embers from the earlier blaze smoldered undetected and reignited when high winds swept through the area.
“Fire can get deep-seated into tree trunks and into the root systems of big trees and smolder underground for days, weeks, and even months,” said retired Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) arson investigator Ed Nordskog, who has worked on more than 2,100 fire cases. “That the original fire rekindled or restarted up to six, seven days later—some people have scoffed at that notion, but that is an entirely credible and possible phenomenon.”
The LAFD has declined to provide details on its response to the Lachman Fire or whether it had been monitoring the site for potential flare-ups. A department spokesperson previously stated that it is not standard practice to patrol past fire sites for extended periods once a fire is considered extinguished.
However, during a recent community forum in Pacific Palisades, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley assured residents that investigators are committed to full transparency. “I can look you in the eye and tell you that full disclosure—if that indeed is what they find out, we will tell you that,” she said.
Assistant Chief Joe Everett defended the department’s handling of the Lachman Fire, stating that firefighters conducted a “cold trailing operation well into the next day” and continued monitoring the area for at least 36 hours. “That fire was dead,” Everett said. “If it is determined that was the cause, it would be a phenomenon.”
As the investigation continues, officials remain cautious about drawing conclusions. If the Palisades Fire is found to have reignited from the earlier blaze, it could raise new concerns about how wildfires are monitored, particularly in high-risk areas prone to strong winds and dry conditions.
For now, the cause remains under review, with investigators working to determine whether a single spark, carried by the wind, led to one of California’s worst wildfire disasters.
