Introduction to the Palisades Fire Response Report
The Los Angeles Police Department released a report that identifies several shortcomings in its response to the devastating Palisades fire, including communication breakdowns, inconsistent recordkeeping and poor coordination at times with other agencies — most notably the city’s Fire Department.
Overview of the After-Action Report
The after-action report called the January blaze a “once-in-a lifetime cataclysmic event” and praised the heroic actions of many officers, but said the LAPD’s missteps presented a “valuable learning opportunity” with more climate-related disasters likely looming in the future. LAPD leaders released the 92-page report and presented the findings to the Police Commission at the civilian oversight panel’s public meeting Tuesday.
Findings of the Report
The report found that while the Fire Department was the lead agency, coordination with the LAPD was “poor” on Jan. 7, the first day of the fire. Though personnel from both agencies were working out of the same command post, they failed to “collectively establish a unified command structure or identify shared objectives, missions, or strategies,” the report said. Uncertainty about who was in charge was another persistent issue, with more confusion sown by National Guard troops that were deployed to the area. Department leaders were given no clear guidelines on what the guard’s role would be when it arrived, the report said.
Communication Breakdowns and Challenges
The mix-ups were the result of responding to a wildfire of unprecedented scale, officials said. At times the flames were advancing at 300 yards a minute, LAPD assistant chief Michael Rimkunas told the commission. “Hopefully we don’t have to experience another natural disaster, but you never know,” Rimkunas said, adding that the endeavor was “one of the largest and most complex traffic control operations in its history.” Between Jan. 11 and Jan. 16, when the LAPD’s operation was at its peak, more than 700 officers a day were assigned to the fire, the report said.
Logistical Challenges and Recordkeeping Issues
The report found that officials failed to maintain a chronological log about the comings and goings of LAPD personnel at the fire zone. “While it is understandable that the life-threatening situation at hand took precedence over the completion of administrative documentation,” the report said, confusion at the command post about how many officers were in the field “resulted in diminished situational awareness.” After the fire first erupted, the department received more than 160 calls for assistance, many of them for elderly or disabled residents who were stuck in their homes — though the report noted that the disruption of cell service contributed to widespread confusion.
Response to the Fire and Journalist Access
The communication challenges continued throughout the day, the report found. Encroaching flames forced authorities to move their command post several times. An initial staging area, which was in the path of the evacuation route and the fire, was consumed within 30 minutes, authorities said. But because of communication breakdowns caused by downed radio and cellphone towers, dispatchers sometimes had trouble reaching officers in the field and police were forced to “hand deliver” important paper documents from a command post to a staging area on Zuma Beach, about 20 miles away. Several commissioners asked about reports of journalists being turned away from fire zones in the weeks that followed the fire’s outbreak. Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said there was some trepidation about whether to allow journalists into the fire-ravaged area while authorities still were continuing their search for bodies of fire victims.
Commissioner Feedback and Recommendations
Commissioner Rasha Gerges Shields said that while she had some concerns about the LAPD’s performance, overall she was impressed and suggested that officers should be commended for their courage. The department has said dozens of officers lost their homes to the fires. The report also recommended that the department issue masks and personal protective equipment after there was a shortage for officers on the front lines throughout the first days of the blaze.
Conclusion
The Palisades fire was one of the costliest and most destructive disasters in city history, engulfing nearly 23,000 acres, leveling more than 6,000 structures and killing 12 people. More than 60,000 people were evacuated. The deaths of five people within L.A. city limits remain under investigation by the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The LAPD report details how at 11:15 a.m., about 45 minutes after the first 911 calls, the call was made to issue a citywide tactical alert, the report said. The department stayed in a heightened state of alert for 29 days, allowing it to draw resources from other parts of the city, but also meaning that certain calls would not receive a timely police response.
FAQs
Q: What were some of the challenges faced by the LAPD during the Palisades fire response?
A: The LAPD faced several challenges, including communication breakdowns, inconsistent recordkeeping, and poor coordination with other agencies, particularly the Fire Department.
Q: How many officers were assigned to the fire at its peak?
A: More than 700 officers a day were assigned to the fire between Jan. 11 and Jan. 16.
Q: What was the impact of the fire on the community?
A: The fire engulfed nearly 23,000 acres, leveled more than 6,000 structures, and killed 12 people, with more than 60,000 people evacuated.
Q: Are there any ongoing investigations related to the fire?
A: Yes, the deaths of five people within L.A. city limits remain under investigation by the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
