‘No One Came’: LA Fire Department Criticized for Delayed Response to Palisades Fire

Delays and Resource Shortages: Witnesses Say LA Fire Department Was Late to Pacific Palisades Fire Response.

By Sheenu Gupta On Jan 14, 2025 Share with new partner:

LA firefighters faced significant delays in responding to a fire that broke out in Pacific Palisades last week, with official records and local homeowners confirming it took them at least 45 minutes to arrive on the scene. The fire initially began as a large column of smoke, but by the time fire crews reached the area around 11 a.m. on January 7, the situation had already escalated into a fast-spreading wildfire covering approximately 10 acres.

Fueled by strong winds, the blaze continued to grow at an alarming rate. Within half an hour of the firefighters’ arrival, the fire had expanded to roughly 200 acres. Wind gusts carried embers as far as two miles from the point of origin, further complicating containment efforts and putting nearby homes and properties at risk. The delayed response, combined with challenging weather conditions, allowed the fire to spread rapidly, raising concerns among residents and highlighting resource challenges faced by the fire department during the critical early stages of the incident.

The timeline of events, as reported by the Washington Post, raises serious concerns about whether the Los Angeles Fire Department’s delayed response and apparent lack of resources may have played a role in allowing the Pacific Palisades fire to spiral out of control. The significant lag in the arrival of firefighting crews, coupled with the fast-growing nature of the blaze, suggests that the fire could have been contained more effectively had resources been deployed more swiftly.

As of now, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are still working to determine how it started. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has taken the lead in the investigation, examining all possible causes, including the potential for arson or other criminal factors. The ongoing probe will aim to provide more clarity on what triggered the fire and whether any missteps during the early response contributed to its rapid escalation.

According to sources who spoke to the Los Angeles Times, the devastating fire that has claimed at least eight lives, scorched nearly 24,000 acres of land, and destroyed more than 5,000 buildings, is believed to have “human origins.” The area where the fire started is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, teenagers, and others, which has led to speculation that the fire may have been ignited by human activity.

In a report by the Washington Post, a theory has emerged suggesting that the fire could have reignited from a smaller blaze that began on New Year’s Eve. This initial fire, possibly sparked by fireworks, was reportedly contained by firefighters, but according to forensic analysis, it may have continued to smolder in the hills of the affluent neighborhood for several days. The prolonged smoldering could have eventually reignited, spreading into the larger blaze.

However, the investigation also points to a series of issues with the fire department’s response, including constrained resources, disjointed coordination, and communication problems. These factors likely hindered crews from reaching the point of origin in time to prevent the fire from growing out of control. The Washington Post suggests that these missteps in the early stages of the response allowed the fire to escalate and cause significant damage before being brought under control.

Compounding the situation, strong winds and extremely dry conditions caused the fire to rapidly grow, expanding exponentially in just a few hours. Meanwhile, since the fire broke out, a public dispute has emerged between Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley over funding and staffing issues. Earlier this year, the mayor cut the fire department’s budget by $17.6 million, prompting Crowley to raise concerns about the department’s already strained resources. She had previously warned that the LAFD was dangerously understaffed and underfunded. On Monday, the LAFD did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.

Michel Valentine and his wife, who own two homes near the likely origin of the fire, shared their experience with the Washington Post, recounting how they first spotted the smoke at 10:15 a.m. and immediately reported it. When no responders had arrived by 10:45 a.m., they called again, only to be met with a busy signal. The couple’s concern grew as the situation worsened with no visible action.

Michel’s sister, Julie Valentine, who was at her home in Manhattan Beach, also tried to help by calling the fire department from afar. Describing the ordeal, she told The Post, “You can’t imagine the nightmare.” She struggled with poor communication and nearly non-existent cell service, making it difficult to get any information or assistance. Desperately, she called 911 multiple times, pleading for the fire department to respond to the emergency in Pacific Palisades. “I was literally begging for mercy,” she said, overwhelmed by the lack of response and the escalating danger.

LAFD radio communications from that day reveal the department was severely stretched, with crews already engaged in battling two other fires in different parts of Los Angeles, according to the Washington Post. Firefighters indicated they would send units to the Pacific Palisades fire as soon as they could spare resources.

At 10:33 a.m., radio chatter captured firefighters noting that a “camera showing smoke” from what was described as “the second brush in the Palisades” had been spotted. They mentioned they would need to divert firefighters from other assignments to address the emerging blaze. A few minutes later, another fire official, who was dealing with a small brush fire in West Hollywood, radioed the dispatcher, explaining that he was “working real hard” to get additional responders to the Pacific Palisades fire as quickly as possible, underscoring the challenges they faced with limited personnel and resources at the time.

Around that same time, a firefighting helicopter carrying a load of water reported via radio that it was unable to assist in battling the blaze due to dangerously strong winds in the area, which made flying conditions unsafe.

Michel Valentine recounted to the Washington Post that he witnessed another helicopter fly over the rapidly expanding fire but noted it was not equipped with water to help suppress the flames. As the fire continued to spread, radio communications between firefighters became increasingly tense over the next 10 minutes. Crews engaged in a frustrating exchange, struggling to determine which units were available and who would be dispatched to the scene, further delaying the emergency response.

At 10:48 a.m., a fire official reported that the blaze had grown to approximately 10 acres, fueled by dense vegetation along a ridgeline. The official issued a grim warning, stating that the fire was “100 percent in alignment with the wind,” creating conditions that could cause it to spread rapidly. He cautioned that the fire had the potential to consume several hundred acres within the next 20 minutes and could begin threatening nearby structures during that time.

Despite the escalating danger, traffic records reviewed by the Washington Post showed that fire trucks were still en route to the scene, more than 25 minutes after the initial report of the fire had been made.

Michel Valentine told the Washington Post that for a significant period, he saw no emergency responders — neither police officers nor firefighters — present on the ground or in the air as the fire rapidly spread. He expressed his disappointment, emphasizing how quickly the second fire was advancing without anyone there to intervene.

It wasn’t until approximately 11:30 to 11:45 a.m., nearly 90 minutes after his wife had initially called 911, that Valentine finally saw fire trucks arriving in the neighborhood. However, by that point, the situation had already escalated beyond control. He recalled watching as the fire crews assessed the street but quickly made a U-turn and left the area, as the flames had spread deep into the hillside, making it too dangerous to engage from that point.

According to the Washington Post, the first responders had arrived in Pacific Palisades shortly before 11 a.m., but their efforts were concentrated at the base of the fire near Palisades Drive, rather than the more advanced fire threatening homes further uphill.

By 5 p.m., the wind-driven fire had swept through the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, threatening not only Michel Valentine’s two homes but also those of his mother and sister, Julie Valentine.

With no help in sight, Michel resorted to trying to fight the flames himself in a desperate attempt to save their properties, according to Julie. Frustrated by the lack of emergency response, she expressed her anger, saying, “We had to become our own firefighters. Our leadership completely failed us. We pay taxes to receive protection in emergencies, yet no one showed up to help.”

Julie Valentine strongly criticized the lack of available emergency resources, emphasizing how unacceptable it was that her brother, Michel, was left to battle the advancing flames on his own without professional assistance. “The fact that there were no resources for him and he had to do this alone is shameful,” she stated, highlighting the failure of authorities to provide adequate support during the crisis.

She further blamed both city and state officials for neglecting proper wildfire prevention measures, specifically the failure to clear the dry brush from the surrounding hillsides. This accumulation of highly flammable vegetation acted as fuel, allowing the wildfire to spread rapidly with little resistance. Julie pointed out the double standard, noting that while homeowners like herself are legally required to clear brush from their own properties to reduce fire hazards, officials had failed to maintain the public lands just beyond her property line. “I am mandated to clear the brush on my property — but beyond the fence line, nobody from the city or state took care of it,” she said, expressing frustration over the apparent lack of accountability.