Palisades Fire likely started near the remnants of a blaze believed to have been sparked by NYE fireworks: report

The Palisades Fire that has devastated Los Angeles and killed at least eight people may have reignited from scorch marks left by an earlier inferno that is believed to have been caused by fireworks set off on New Year’s Eve, according to a report.The remnants of the New Year’s Eve fire likely could’ve been reignited by strong winds — which have made the current blazes difficult to control — even six days after it was put out, the Washington Post reported.An analysis of satellite images, radio communications, videos as well as interviews by the publication found that the deadly Palisades Fire began in the same area where firefighters had put out the previous fire — and that firefighters were slower to respond to the second blaze, which quickly became one of the most destructive in California’s history.

Frustrated residents told The Washington Post that the response time from first responders when the Palisades Fire first started last Tuesday was much slower than it’d been on New Year’s Eve.Nearby resident Michael Valentine was home during the start of both fires — and said the firefighting response between the two was like night and day.The first time around, he said that the response was swift and impressive.The second, though, was slower and hindered by the high winds, he told the outlet.

When he and his wife each called the Los Angeles Fire Department 30 minutes apart last Tuesday to report the possible beginnings of the Palisades Fire, Valentine said that he had to wait because the line was busy.At the time, LAFD crews were caught up responding to two other situations in other parts of the city and planned to send resources whenever they had a chance, according to WaPo.Meanwhile, a helicopter carrying water that attempted to respond early on couldn’t because of the high winds.“For the longest time, I didn’t see any police, firefighters, not on the ground or in the air.

I was disappointed because the second fire was moving so fast, and...