One Year After the Palisades Fire: Why Lawsuits Continue

Key Takeaways 

• The Palisades Fire was not simply an unavoidable natural disaster. 

• Evidence shows earlier warning signs were raised and not fully addressed. 

• Fire response decisions before and during the event are now under scrutiny. 

• An internal review was later altered in ways that softened accountability. 

• Lawsuits and investigations continue to examine whether preventable failures turned a containable fire into a catastrophe. 

What Happened During the Palisades Fire? 

The Palisades Fire erupted in January 2025 under extreme Santa Ana wind conditions and rapidly devastated Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas. It became one of the most destructive urban wildfires in Los Angeles history, resulting in loss of life, thousands of destroyed structures, and widespread displacement. 

Initially, the fire was framed as a fast-moving, wind-driven event that overwhelmed emergency response capabilities. Over time, however, reporting, testimony, and investigative findings revealed that the fire may have been the result of compounding human decisions rather than an unavoidable act of nature. 

New Discovery: Earlier Fires Should Have Raised Red Flags (But They Didn’t) 

Yes. Days before the Palisades Fire, firefighters responded to a smaller brush fire in the same area. According to later disclosures, firefighters on the ground expressed concerns that the fire was not fully extinguished and that hot spots and embers remained. 

Despite those warnings, crews were ordered to leave and equipment was pulled. The fire was publicly described as fully extinguished. Investigators later concluded that embers from that earlier fire reignited days later when high winds returned, triggering the Palisades Fire. 

This sequence has become central to questions about preventability and accountability. 

Were Standard Wildfire Protocols Not Followed? 

Forecasts leading up to the Palisades Fire warned of life-threatening wind conditions days in advance. Under standard wildfire protocols, those conditions often trigger pre-deployment of additional crews and equipment in high-risk areas. 

That did not occur in the Pacific Palisades. The area remained staffed at routine levels, and no additional resources were staged nearby. When the fire ignited, response times lagged as wind-driven flames spread rapidly. 

Officials later cited budget constraints and resource shortages, but internal documents suggest the decision not to pre-deploy may have been a deliberate cost-saving measure rather than an operational necessity. 

Why Is the After-Action Report So Controversial? 

After the Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department released an after-action report intended to explain what went wrong. Instead, it became a case study in managing blame after a disaster. 

The report was led by Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, a veteran fire officer tasked with documenting operational failures, including decisions involving pre-deployment and post-fire mop-up. Early drafts reportedly contained stronger language acknowledging those failures. 

Before publication, senior LAFD leadership edited the document. Key sections were removed or softened, changing the tone and substance of the findings. 

Chief Cook ultimately refused to sign off on the final version, stating that the changes materially altered his conclusions and no longer reflected his work. 

Internal emails later revealed concerns among senior officials, including members of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley’s command staff, about controlling the public narrative rather than fully confronting operational mistakes. 

For fire victims, investigators, and the public, the controversy raised a fundamental question: was the department focused on transparency and accountability, or on institutional self-protection? 

Ongoing Investigations and Accountability Efforts 

Crowley was removed from her position as Los Angeles Fire Chief in the months following the fire. City leadership cited failures in preparedness, including decisions related to staffing, pre-deployment, and response planning ahead of extreme Santa Ana wind conditions. 

Her removal marked a rare and significant leadership consequence, signaling that the city acknowledged operational breakdowns went beyond frontline execution. 

Additionally, city officials ordered independent examinations into specific aspects of the response, including: 

• The handling and mop-up of the earlier January 1 brush fire 

• Resource allocation and staffing decisions ahead of red-flag warnings 

• Interagency coordination, including communications with state agencies 

These independent reviews are designed to assess whether policies were followed, ignored, or overridden. 

Related coverage by J&Y Law – read it here:

Navigating Legal Challenges After Wildfires: Essential Guidance for Victims 

Can I Still Sue If I Was in the Palisades Fire? 

The Palisades Fire has triggered extensive litigation examining whether public agencies failed to follow established safety protocols, whether infrastructure decisions worsened the damage, and whether early warnings were ignored.  

In California, wildfire liability often turns on whether public actions or omissions substantially contributed to the harm, not whether anyone intended disaster. The help of a local Los Angeles wildfire lawyer is essential to establish wildfire liability and determine whether you qualify for compensation. We know that: J&Y Law has been there since the very beginning. 

“We were on KTLA offering free legal advice after the fires broke out, because people were desperate for answers,” says Jason Javaheri, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of J&Y Law. “People are still trying to rebuild their lives while watching their neighborhoods get snapped up by out-of-state investors. Everything is moving fast, but we can’t let that speed bury the stories of the families who lost everything. This isn’t just about legal liability. It’s about justice for the people who woke up one day to find their world gone.” 

For victims, the legal process is not just about compensation. It is about answers. 

Palisades Fire: Much more Than Burnt Properties 

The Palisades Fire is no longer just a wildfire story. It is a case study in how preventable harm unfolds when early warnings are minimized, preparation is delayed, and accountability comes last. 

That pattern is not unique to disasters. It is the same dynamic we see in personal injury cases every day. 

“We see it all the time,” says Javaheri. “Insurance adjusters or defense attorneys coming in with lowball offers, trying to control the story before the victim even has a chance to speak. They think because they’re the big guy, they get to set the rules. But that’s not how justice works. Our job as lawyers is to make sure the people who’ve been hurt aren’t silenced. We make them heard.” 

If you have questions about this incident, speak to a Pacific Palisades fire lawyer – call J&Y Law at (877) 549-1281. Schedule a free consultation and get experienced, qualified advice from lawyers who were there when the Palisades fire happened.