In a move to ensure accountability and safety, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Lachman Fire, prompted by a Los Angeles Times report. The report revealed that firefighters were instructed to leave a potentially hazardous situation that later escalated into the Palisades Fire.

Text messages from the scene detailed how firefighters informed their battalion chief that the area remained perilous, with the ground still smoldering and rocks retaining heat. This was the situation they encountered after responding to the initial Lachman Fire, which had ignited on New Year’s Day and was considered contained.

Despite these warnings, the battalion chief issued orders for the fire crews to retract their equipment and vacate the premises on January 2. This decision was made just a day after they had declared the 8-acre blaze contained, without thoroughly checking for hidden embers that might reignite.