BREAKING: New evidence reveals that Los Angeles firefighters were warned about an ongoing fire hazard just days before the devastating Pacific Palisades blaze erupted, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times. Officials confirmed that the Pacific Palisades fire was a re-ignition of the earlier Lachman Fire, which began on January 1, 2023.
On October 8, authorities arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht in connection with a criminal investigation into the Pacific Palisades fire. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California stated that the Palisades fire was a continuation of the Lachman Fire, contradicting earlier claims attributing the destruction to climate change.
Text messages obtained by the LA Times show that firefighters expressed concerns about the Lachman Fire not being fully extinguished. One firefighter noted surprise at being ordered to pack up just a day after the Lachman Fire ignited, stating that “hot” tree stumps still posed a risk. Another firefighter mentioned the distress among crews ordered to leave, emphasizing, “We couldn’t ignore the decision being made from higher up.”
In shocking footage that emerged following Rinderknecht’s arrest, smoke was seen rising from a smoldering bush days before the Pacific Palisades fire broke out. This video is now part of a lawsuit against the state and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
Former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, whose family was directly affected by the fire, has become a vocal critic of government responses to the crisis. In a recent social media post, Pratt shared direct communications with an involved LAFD firefighter who confirmed that “several hot spots” remained on the scene of the Lachman Fire, stating, “I couldn’t believe we walked away from that burn scar the way it was.”
Both Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced mounting criticism from residents regarding their handling of the disaster. In February, Bass took decisive action, firing LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley amid reports detailing failures in response to both the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires.
As investigations continue and the community grapples with the aftermath, the urgent question remains: how could these warnings go unheeded? Residents demand accountability and transparency as they seek answers about the fire response failures.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
