Residents of Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, are expressing concerns as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducts controlled fire testing to investigate the cause of the destructive Palisades Fire. The testing began Tuesday night along the Temescal Ridge Trail and will continue through Thursday.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted in January, claimed 12 lives, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and scorched over 34,000 acres. Investigators hope the controlled burns will help determine the fire’s origin and whether it was a rekindling of the Lachman Fire, which was sparked by fireworks on New Year’s Day and thought to be extinguished.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is present during the tests to ensure public safety. Captain Erik Scott of the LAFD reassured residents that there is no cause for alarm, stating, “There’s no need to contact 911.”
Despite these assurances, residents remain anxious. Lisa Janney, a local resident, expressed her concerns, saying, “We’ve had so many fires in the past, and we’ve always been OK, so when I left to go to work on Tuesday morning, and then got stuck where I was, I still thought we’d be OK.”
The testing is taking place near Skull Rock and Green Peak, believed to be the fire’s ground zero. The Los Angeles Fire Department has restricted public access to the area and advised aircraft and drone pilots to adhere to FAA restrictions.
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