California wildfires may have been preventable, investigation finds

An investigation reports the Lachman fire began on Jan. 1, 2025, on parkland and was left to burn under a state park policy; the larger fires were contained on Jan. 31, 2025 and federal and private legal filings have followed.

An investigation by Joel Pollak reports that a small fire began on Jan. 1, 2025, on land tied to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and spread onto Topanga State Park. The report says firefighters returned on Jan. 2 and were reported to have been ordered to leave while smoldering remained. The account notes state park guidance that allows some fires to burn within public safety limits and identifies mapped "avoidance areas" that limit certain suppression tactics. The investigation and public records have prompted federal and private filings and statements from officials. Key facts: - The Lachman fire was reported to have started on Jan. 1, 2025, and a federal indictment names an alleged arsonist. - Firefighters checked the scene on Jan. 2 and were reported to have been ordered to leave while hot spots remained. - State park guidance is described as permitting some fires to burn within public safety limits and restricting heavy-equipment suppression in designated avoidance areas. - The park fire is reported to have rekindled during seasonal winds and the broader fires were contained on Jan. 31, 2025. - Federal indictment and private lawsuits have been filed and officials have said local decisions guided the response. Summary: Officials and court records report the initial park fire on Jan. 1 was left to burn under park policy and that local agencies said the decision to leave the scene was local. The fires rekindled and were contained on Jan. 31, 2025, and federal indictment and private lawsuits have been filed. Undetermined at this time.