A new report on weather conditions at the start of the Palisades Fire found that winds and temperatures were within “predictable” and “manageable” ranges, leading developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso to demand a “clear response from Mayor Bass.”
According to the Fire Rebuild weather report, recorded wind speeds were not high enough to “trigger high wind warnings,” and that with “drought conditions aligned with normal Southern California climate cycles,” climate change could not be blamed for the fire.
“Drawing from 48 regional weather stations, historical wind records, drought trends, and official forecasts, the analysis finds that the fire occurred under conditions that were historically consistent, predictable, and well within the thresholds of manageable wildfire behavior,” found the report.
“Contrary to public assertions, the fire did not burn under hurricane-force winds, nor did it unfold during a record-breaking drought,” the report continued.
“The only aspect of this fire that can be considered truly unprecedented was the failure to contain it, despite the availability of early warnings, known fire behavior patterns, and decades of historical precedent,” the report concluded. “Misrepresenting the fire as a product of uncontrollable or climate-driven forces undermines the accountability of fire management agencies and public safety planning.”
Caruso, who is rumored to be mulling another run for office, responded by demanding responsibility and a response from the mayor.
“No more buck passing,” said Caruso. “We need a clear response from Mayor Bass on what happened.”
The Palisades and Eaton Fires are estimated to have caused over $250 billion in economic damage, making the early January fires the costliest disaster in U.S. history.
Eaton Fire victims are likely poised to secure both compensatory and punitive damages from SoCal Edison, the privately-owned utility whose power equipment appears to be connected to the fire. But Palisades Fire victims may be eligible only for compensatory damages; LADWP, as a public entity, may have legal immunity from punitive damages.
One ongoing lawsuit against LADWP outlines how the 117 million gallon Santa Ynez reservoir in the Palisades, managed by LADWP and purpose-built as a water source for firefighting, has been left empty since February 2024 for unfinished repairs.
The three, million-gallon tanks supplying the Palisades went dry within hours of the fire’s onset.
It remains unclear if any LADWP power equipment was involved in the Palisades Fire, as an investigation is still under way.
