LA Firefighters Evacuated from Site of Palisades Explosion

Firefighters in Los Angeles were ordered to leave the site of a small brush fire, even though tree stumps were still hot, contributing to the ignition of the Palisades Fire on January 7, which resulted in 7,000 structures burned and 12 fatalities. Text messages revealed that firefighters were surprised and upset by the order to depart, with some warning it was a poor decision due to visible smoldering. LAFD Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva explained that the fire was not due to failed suppression but the reactivation of hidden embers under extreme conditions. A 29-year-old man from Florida faces federal charges related to the fire.

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