The lawsuit filed by residents affected by the Palisade fire in January claims they have evidence that a second flame had just started shortly after the first fire, causing more destruction and devastation to the seaside community.
In the complaint, the fire victim blamed the water in Los Angeles for running out of water during the flames, saying that the energized power lines fell several hours after the fire broke out, causing a second emergency. The lawsuit was filed against LADWP and the City of Los Angeles.
The lawyer representing the fire victim said he believed the power lines had dropped during the strong winds and lit the second fire around 12 hours after the Palisade fire began. The lawsuit says some showers of burning material appear to match the location where they were captured by firefighters’ cameras.
“It shows what those Poles believe are new fires that began at the exact location where they snapped,” said Alex Robertson, an attorney representing the fire victims. “And the power line fell at 10:30pm.”
According to Robertson, the timing of that firewatch image coincides with accounts from several residents who said they saved the home by putting out the embers from the first wave of fire. They believe that their home was lost after the second fire passed through the neighbourhood.
“We have a video that some of these fire walls filmed, which was discovered exactly two and a half months ago from the location of those broken power poles and fallen power lines,” Roberton said.
LADWP initially said the region’s power circuits had deassimulated long before the Palisades fired. However, when asked to clarify by Robertson, lawyers defending the department said these circuits were actually electrified on the day of the fire.
“After even more pressing, we finally got a written response and buried in footnotes on the final page of a letter from our lawyer. “Well, it was a misconception about the DWP’s statement to the Washington Post that the line had been abandoned or deassimilated.
How will Los Angeles continue to float in 2025? It faces a massive budget deficit, is considering layoffs, spending millions on fire recovery, and plans to rebuild more money into the fire department after years of underfunding its infrastructure. —- Investigative reporter Eric Leonard takes a closer look at key issues following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Send us news tips about Palisade Fire and Eton Fire. http://4.nbcla.com/gath7pd
The department confirmed the issue in the following statement to NBC4:
“The LADWP power lines referenced in the recent lawsuit regarding the Palisade fire have been deassimilated for several years before the fire, but were revitalized in 2024 due to operational needs and energized when the fire began.”
LADWP also said investigators were not asked to look into the line or equipment, adding that none of the lines would pass through the area where the Palisade fire first began. The department also said other precautions were taken using electric lines before and after the fire.
Robertson argued that the city could be liable if there was evidence to prove that a second ignition occurred, even if the flames were ignited in a completely different way.
“Under the law, DWPs could be liable, even if they were simultaneous causes,” he said. “They don’t have to be the sole cause of the fire, but if they are the simultaneous cause of launching multiple spot fires, there will be an additional major fire that will destroy the house at 10:30pm and merge with the main fire.”
So far, no official cause of the Palisade fire has been declared. Investigators have not said whether the litigation theory is being considered.
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