Federal and local arson investigators investigating the cause of the Palisade fire on January 7 have reduced the scope of the case to a major theory of how it fired, but more research work has been completed, but sources from several law enforcement agencies familiar with NBC Los Angeles this week said.
They said it was too early to know if criminal prosecution remains possible, and that the final conclusion about the cause could still be months away.
Shortly after the Palisade fire was destroyed, more than 6,000 structural authorities examining the ignition considered two scenarios.
Palisades’ fire investigations are led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions through the National Response Team, with support from LAPD’s main crime division and LAFD’s arson division.
The ATF previously declined to comment on questions about the progress of the incident, saying its investigation continued earlier this year, with agents working on many leads.
Experts told NBC News the “cold ignition” theory – still smoldering from a fire previously extracted by strong winds on January 7th – but it was not impossible to indict him in criminal court.
Palisade residents say they believe the Jan. 1 fire was fired due to illegal fireworks, but authorities have not confirmed that it was causing it, and the LA City Fire Department withheld initial reports of the fire.
In late April, the ATF conducted a series of night burn tests at the Palisade. Sources said this week that remote fire detection devices will focus on the sensitivity and ability to trigger alerts.
These tests took place between 11pm and 3am, when the fire began on January 1st. The Palisade caught fire during the day.
In January, the ATF warned that investigation into the cause of the Palisade fire would be long and called for the masses’ patience while the incident was being investigated.
“This will all take time,” he said, ATF is a special proxy and representative agent responsible for Jose Medina.
“We know that everyone wants answers, and the community deserves answers. The ATF gives you those answers, but that’s not a timeline as to when this happens once we complete a thorough investigation,” he said.
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