Who made the call to leave the Lachman fire? In sworn testimony, LAFD officials pass the buck - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Alene Tchekmedyian

March 1, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A new sworn testimony has revealed confusion among Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials regarding who made the decision to remove hoses from the Lachman fire site despite warnings about potentially dangerous hot spots. Michael McIndoe, a firefighter captain, testified that he expressed concerns to Battalion Chief Mario Garcia about picking up hoses on January 2, 2025, due to warmer weather conditions making it harder to manage remaining fire risks. Despite these warnings, Garcia’s orders remained unchanged, and McIndoe spent hours rolling up hose lines instead of addressing the hot spots. Days later, high winds caused embers from the Lachman fire to ignite the devastating Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The testimony also highlighted conflicting accounts among officials. McIndoe claimed he confronted Garcia about his concerns while on-site, but Garcia testified that no one raised issues with the hose removal process during his shift. Another firefighter, Scott Pike, stated he informed a captain about hot spots but did not receive orders to address them. McIndoe later clarified that he had no direct interaction with Pike and was only following higher-up directives, while Garcia suggested the decision to remove hoses was made before his shift began. The confusion over who made the decision to leave the Lachman fire raises critical questions about accountability and safety protocols during wildfires. The transcripts from the ongoing lawsuit against the city and state underscore a potential breakdown in communication and leadership within the LAFD. As the investigation continues, residents affected by the Palisades fire are seeking answers about how preventable mistakes led to such catastrophic losses. This case highlights the importance of clear decision-making and proactive measures during emergency situations to protect public safety.

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 3/1/2026