A fire in the Palisades area, located in Los Angeles County, may have originated from a rekindling. According to The Washington Post, the initial fire could be linked to the use of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
The fire in the Pacific Palisades area, which began on the night of January 1, was extinguished within four hours. However, after its containment, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced plans to strengthen measures to prevent rekindling. The newspaper noted that staff shortages and the need to respond to other incidents make it challenging to monitor already extinguished fires.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. However, local residents believe that fireworks were the cause of the initial blaze.
The large-scale wildfires that began in Los Angeles County on January 7 have already been recognized as the largest in the state’s history. The total area affected has exceeded 16,000 hectares. Authorities report that at least 24 people have died, and more than 12,300 buildings, including celebrity homes, have been destroyed. Dry and windy weather is contributing to the rapid spread of the fire, meteorologists note.
