As authorities continue to investigate the origins of the Palisades Fire in Southern California, they are paying close attention to the area around a popular hiking trail, which had already experienced another fire just days before. Satellite images and reports from local residents suggest a connection between the start of the Palisades Fire on January 7 and the earlier Lachman Fire that had occurred on January 1. The fires both occurred near the Temescal Ridge Trail in the Topanga State Park area, raising questions about whether the two are linked.
The Lachman Fire, which burned just eight acres, caused minimal damage and did not destroy any structures. In contrast, the Palisades Fire quickly escalated after it began on the morning of January 7, fueled by Santa Ana winds. By the end of the first week, it had already consumed more than 23,000 acres and tragically claimed the lives of at least eight people. As of January 14, officials had only been able to contain 17% of the blaze.
While the exact cause of the Palisades Fire remains undetermined, multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), have been dispatched to work alongside local, state, and federal authorities to investigate its origin. A detailed analysis of satellite images taken from January 5 shows signs of charred land from the earlier Lachman Fire. Additionally, newer imagery from January 7 confirmed that smoke was once again rising from the same general area.
Eyewitness accounts further strengthen the possibility of the fire starting near the previous burn site. David Hansen, a local resident, was evacuated with his elderly mother from the Pacific Palisades area when the fire broke out. Hansen recalled that his neighbors informed him the fire began near the spot where the Lachman Fire had been contained. He even captured images from his home on Piedra Morada Drive, located just seven blocks from the site of the earlier fire. “A thousand percent, it was the same spot,” Hansen said, reflecting the strong belief that the fires are connected.
Zane Mitchell, a hiker who had been on the Temescal Ridge Trail during the Lachman Fire, described how some parts of the ground were still smoldering hours after the fire was reported contained. The Los Angeles Fire Department had announced the containment of the fire at 4:46 a.m. on January 1, but Mitchell’s photos showed smoke rising from the area later that morning. This lingering smoldering has historical precedence, as past fires in Southern California, such as the devastating 1991 Oakland Hills fire, have reignited from remaining hotspots. Other recent incidents, including the Maui fires in 2023 and the Boulder County fire in 2021, have also been attributed to similar smoldering conditions causing flare-ups.
As the investigation continues, experts are closely examining the possibility that the smoldering remnants from the Lachman Fire could have played a role in igniting the Palisades Fire. This situation serves as a reminder of the long-term risks posed by wildfires, particularly in areas where past fires may still be burning beneath the surface, awaiting the right conditions to flare up once again.
