An extensive investigation into the Palisades wildfires has uncovered a series of failures by firefighting authorities that may have contributed to the devastating blaze, which many initially thought was exacerbated solely by climate change. The fires, which began on January 7, ravaged the Los Angeles area, killing at least 24 people and destroying over 12,000 homes, many belonging to wealthy individuals who contribute significantly to the city’s economy.
Despite initial claims from California Democrats that the fires were a result of uncontrollable climate change, the investigation suggests that the fire may have been preventable. Authorities were already dealing with another wildfire, sparked by illegal fireworks on New Year’s Eve, when signs of smoke appeared in the same area on January 7. Firefighters recognized the potential danger, with one dispatch message noting that the fire started close to the location of the previous blaze. Experts believe the fire could have been caused by a “reignition,” where embers from the earlier fire, stoked by strong winds, flared up again.
A delay in the investigation and response has raised concerns among residents and experts. Investigators were criticized for not acting more quickly, even though California has previously warned that smoldering fires can reignite days later. A lack of continuous oversight by the Los Angeles Fire Department after the first fire was extinguished has become a key point of concern. Professor Michael Gollner from UC Berkeley, who reviewed the materials, explained that such reignitions are common, and that the previous fire likely rekindled, leading to the outbreak.
The investigation into the cause of the fire has now been taken over by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). While the ATF is gathering evidence, the Los Angeles Fire Department has not commented on the ongoing investigation. False-color satellite imagery revealed burn scars on the land that matched the locations of smoke sightings from the early minutes of the Palisades fire, further supporting the reignition theory.
While authorities work to uncover the cause, conspiracy theories have continued to spread, with some claiming that arsonists, including a homeless man arrested for setting fires with a blowtorch, may have been responsible. Political tensions have also escalated, with President-elect Donald Trump blaming L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom for rejecting his 2019 water conservation policy. Democrats, in turn, accused Trump of politicizing the tragedy and denying the role of climate change, which they argue could have worsened the disaster.
