Firefighters Spot Persistent Dangers on the Ground (Image Credits: Ca-times.brightspotcdn.com)
Los Angeles — Sworn depositions from Los Angeles Fire Department members have exposed conflicting accounts surrounding the order to remove crews and equipment from the Lachman fire site despite reports of lingering hot spots.[1][2]
Firefighters Spot Persistent Dangers on the Ground
Scott Pike, a firefighter with 23 years of experience, described discovering multiple smoldering areas while helping roll up hoses at the site on January 2, 2025. He testified that he observed about five spots emitting light smoke, including ash pits too hot to touch even with gloved hands.[2]
Pike kicked one pit with his boot and revealed “red hot, like, coals” beneath the surface, accompanied by crackling sounds. He immediately alerted a captain and fellow firefighters, stating, “Hey, Cap… We have hot spots in general. We have some ash pits.” The captain suggested using hand tools or water backpacks but issued no further directives, leaving Pike with the sense that “nobody listened to me.”[1]
Captain Michael McIndoe, leading a crew from Fire Station 69, also encountered issues. He extinguished a smoldering ash pit himself using a few gallons of water and a hand tool after finding it during hose retrieval.
Weather Forecasts Fuel Early Concerns
McIndoe reviewed a National Weather Service forecast predicting warmer temperatures that day, which he believed could preheat the ground and revive subsurface heat. Before heading to the site, he phoned Battalion Chief Mario Garcia to voice reservations about pulling hoses amid such conditions.[1]
Garcia responded that he would check the area and call back, but the orders remained unchanged. McIndoe proceeded, spending hours on the task while discussing with other captains the risks of leaving equipment behind. Text messages from the prior shift indicated plans to coordinate hose removal, with one chief noting it might take all day.[2]
By 1:35 p.m., Garcia confirmed via text that all hoses and gear had been cleared from the hill.
Command Chain Points Fingers Elsewhere
In testimony, Garcia maintained that no one raised alarms during his walkthrough of the perimeter, where he saw no smoke or active fire. He described the pullout decision as collaborative and predating his shift, based on available information at the time.[1]
Other leaders echoed this deflection. Battalion Chief Martin Mullen, who ended the previous shift, notified Garcia about leaving hoses overnight as a precaution but deferred further action. Assistant Chief Joseph Everett stated he neither attended the incident nor made commands. Efforts to pinpoint the originator yielded vague responses, with an LAFD spokesperson citing an active probe.[3]
- Lachman fire ignites near midnight on January 1, 2025; contained at eight acres by early morning.
- January 2: Crews retrieve overnight hoses amid hot spot sightings.
- January 7: Santa Ana winds fan embers into Palisades fire.
- January 2026: Depositions released in victims’ lawsuit.
Catastrophic Reignition Prompts Scrutiny
The site smoldered undetected for days until strong winds on January 7, 2025, propelled embers outward, sparking the Palisades fire. That blaze scorched over 1,200 acres, claimed 12 lives, and razed thousands of homes in Pacific Palisades and nearby regions.[2]
The revelations emerged in a lawsuit filed by more than 3,000 victims against the city and state, including California parks officials accused of inadequate post-pullout monitoring. LAFD leaders had previously asserted the original fire was fully extinguished, with one chief calling any rekindle a “phenomenon.”[4]
Mayor Karen Bass labeled the accounts “tremendously alarming” and ordered independent reviews, alongside internal LAFD inquiries and protocol updates.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple firefighters identified hot spots, but superiors did not alter withdrawal plans.
- Weather risks and chain-of-command ambiguity complicated the mop-up phase.
- Ongoing investigations seek clarity on accountability for the Palisades disaster.
As probes continue, the episode underscores the high stakes of fire management decisions in wind-prone areas. What steps should fire departments take to ensure warnings trigger action? Share your thoughts in the comments.
