Controlled burn performed in Los Angeles to determine cause of the Palisades Fire
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Federal investigators are conducting a controlled fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles to help determine the cause of the devastating January blaze that killed 12 people and caused billions in damage, as reported by LA Times.
Four months after January’s deadly Palisades Fire, Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) returned this week to conduct a controlled fire test along the Temescal Ridge Trail.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said they would be there, before, during, and after testing to protect both the environment and the community according to NBC Los Angeles.
The tests aim to pinpoint the fire's origin and its rapid spread during high winds. Authorities are considering whether an earlier fire, thought to have been extinguished, reignited or if it was a new blaze, with human activity likely involved.
The investigation has been extensive, involving grid searches, interviews, video analysis, and speculation over potential liability tied to power lines. The response to the January fires has drawn criticism, including over fire department staffing decisions and the mayor's absence during the crisis. The event highlights the need for preparedness and accountability in managing wildfire disasters.
As also reported by the LA Times, two federal judges who lost their homes in the fires, along with hundreds of Pacific Palisades residents, have filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
They allege that the utility mismanaged the state resources, including empty reservoirs and energized power lines, and thereby contributed to the January firestorm that destroyed homes and caused significant damage.
The lawsuit highlights claims that LADWP was unprepared despite warnings of critical fire weather. LADWP has denied responsibility, citing legal precedents that protect water utilities from wildfire liability.
Ahead of peak fire season, California has now added second C-130 Hercules Airtanker to what is already the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet, Gov.ca reports.