Investigators are looking into a potential connection between New Year’s fireworks and the recent Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles: The city is grappling with two massive wildfires that have already claimed 24 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. As firefighters work tirelessly to contain the blazes, officials are digging into what might have sparked them.
There’s a theory floating around that the Palisades fire could be linked to a smaller fire that broke out just after midnight on New Year’s Day. This fire was quickly extinguished, but it started in a similar area to where the Palisades fire ignited.
Sources told the Los Angeles Times that investigators are looking closely at the location of the New Year’s fire. It’s a popular trail, which raises the question of whether it was human-caused. They’re particularly interested in whether fireworks might have played a role, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
A local resident mentioned that they heard fireworks in the area around the time of the New Year’s fire. This has led to speculation that the small fire could have been started by people celebrating.
Both fires seem to have originated in a brushy area of Pacific Palisades, specifically in Topanga State Park. Satellite images show signs of a burn scar from the New Year’s fire, and early on, smoke from the Palisades fire was visible in the same spot.
Fire experts have pointed out that even after a fire is put out, it can rekindle due to heat trapped in tree roots. One scientist noted that it’s entirely possible for a previous fire to reignite within a week.
Before the wildfires erupted, city officials had warned about strong winds that posed a major risk for fire outbreaks. The area hadn’t seen much rain, making the vegetation extremely dry and susceptible to flames.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, residents reported seeing flames near an electrical tower just as the Eaton fire began. Southern California Edison, which operates the tower, stated they don’t believe their equipment caused the fire.
As of now, officials are still trying to determine the exact causes of these fires, and the investigation will take time since the blazes are ongoing. A specialized team from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is set to start examining the Pacific Palisades area this week.
Currently, the Palisades fire is about 13% contained, having burned around 23,000 acres. The Eaton fire is 27% contained after affecting 14,000 acres, while the Hurst fire is 89% contained with about 800 acres burned.
