By Richard Winton and Hannah Fry | LA Times
ATF officials declined to provide information about what they suspect started the Palisades fire, which charred 23,400 acres and leveled more than 6,800 structures, including many homes.
But sources with knowledge of the inquiry said there are two leading theories: An 8-acre blaze that fire officials thought they had put out on Jan. 1 in the same area reignited and spread because of intense winds, or a new fire was somehow sparked nearby that morning. Sources have told The Times the blaze appears to have human origins.
The Los Angeles Fire Department declined to answer specific questions about the Jan. 1 blaze, called the Lachman fire, saying the files were “sealed” and were part of the ongoing investigation into the Palisades fire.
“We won’t leave a fire that has any hot spots. But with that, I will tell you that the investigation, the team that we have on board right now, will be able to determine whether or not that did indeed happen,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told residents during a community forum this month.”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.”
