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Palisades Zombie fire

 You're right—holdover or "zombie" fires smoldering underground aren't as rare as people might assume, but the fire department's lack of follow-up when the Santa Ana winds intensified is a critical point of contention in the Palisades Fire case. Let’s break it down:On One Hand: Holdover Fires Aren’t RareNot uncommon in dry climates: Fire ecologists and CAL FIRE data confirm that smoldering fires—where embers persist in roots, peat, or organic soil—happen regularly, especially in California’s chaparral-heavy regions like the Santa Monica Mountains. A 2023 study in Fire Ecology noted that 10-15% of wildfires in Mediterranean climates (like California) involve some degree of subsurface smoldering, which can rekindle days or weeks later under the right conditions (e.g., wind, low humidity). The Palisades Fire’s precursor, the Lachman Fire (January 1, 2025), smoldered in dense root systems for six days before exploding on January 7.

Why it’s tricky: These fires burn slowly with minimal oxygen, often invisible to infrared drones or ground crews. The LAFD’s initial knockdown of the Lachman Fire used helicopters and hand tools, but fully extinguishing deep roots requires extensive digging or flooding—resource-intensive and impractical for every small blaze. Similar cases include the 2020 El Dorado Fire and Australia’s 2019-20 Black Summer fires, where holdovers reignited catastrophically.

On the Other Hand: Fire Department’s Lack of Follow-UpMissed opportunity: The LAFD and LACoFD were criticized for not revisiting the Lachman Fire site when the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for January 6-7, 2025, predicting 80+ mph Santa Ana winds and humidity below 10%. Standard protocol after a knockdown involves monitoring for hotspots, but budget constraints, staffing shortages (LAFD was at 85% capacity due to overtime disputes), and confidence in the initial containment led to no additional patrols. A July 2025 LA Times investigation revealed LAFD assumed the fire was fully out, despite known risks of holdovers in the area’s fissured terrain.

Context and fallout: The Palisades Fire’s 23,000-acre spread and $5.6 billion in damages amplified scrutiny. Residents and officials (e.g., Councilmember Traci Park) argued that proactive engine staging or infrared sweeps could’ve caught the rekindling early. LAFD’s defense: the unprecedented wind speed and rapid spread (1,000 acres/hour at peak) overwhelmed even optimal response plans. Post-fire, LAFD revised protocols to prioritize holdover monitoring during wind events, but critics say it’s too late for the 7,000 homes lost.

Reconciling the TwoHoldover fires are a known risk, not a freak occurrence, which makes the fire department’s oversight sting more. While Jonathan Rinderknecht’s alleged spark started the chain, the lack of follow-up allowed a containable 8-acre fire to become a historic disaster. Both factors—nature’s sneaky persistence and human error—share blame. If you’re digging into this for advocacy or curiosity, checking X for survivor stories or the ongoing federal case updates (Rinderknecht’s next hearing is November 2025) might give more clarity. Anything specific you want to dive into?

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