Is this what caused LA fire? Inferno that torched celeb enclave ‘was sparked by FIREWORKS’ as death toll rises to 24
A DEADLY inferno that has wreaked havoc in a celeb enclave in Los Angeles is feared to have been sparked by fireworks.
Raging flames from the Palisades Fire – which has claimed eight lives – continue to tear through the area after almost a week.
The devastating fire could have reignited from scorch marks left by an earlier blaze believed to have been caused by fireworks set off on New Year’s Eve, according to a report.
It is feared remnant of the flames could have been rekindled by strong winds, the Washington Post reports.
The deadly inferno started in the same area where firefighters put out the previous blaze, analysis of satellite images, radio communications and videos reveals.
Fire officers were also slower to respond to the second fire, frustrated residents told the outlet.
Palisades Fire – one of the most destructive blazes in California’s history – has ripped through 23,713 acres.
The area is known for boasting a host of exceptionally expensive properties, with Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson among celebrities whose pads have burnt down.
Six days after it sparked, the treacherous blaze is just 13 per cent contained and has left a trail of devastation.
Local resident Michael Valentine was at home when both blazes began – and said the response to the second blaze wasn’t quick enough.
He and his wife called the fire department 30 minutes apart last Tuesday – but had to wait as the lines were busy.
Crews were stuck responding to two other incidents in other parts of the city, it is reported.
Mr Valentine said: “For the longest time, I didn’t see any police, firefighters, not on the ground or in the air.
“I was disappointed because the second fire was moving so fast, and there was no one there.”
He claims it was 45 minutes before he saw a helicopter circle over the fire.
Experts believe the perfect storm of intense winds and drought in the days before the fire could have made remnants of the previous blaze reignite.
Michael Gollner, a professor of mechanical engineering and fire scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, told the outlet: “We know that fires rekindle and transition from smoldering to flaming.
“It’s certainly possible that something from that previous fire, within a week, had rekindled and caused the ignition.”
The initial fire on New Year’s Eve spread slowly across four acres – but took four hours to contain despite low winds.
Satellite imagery taken around 20 minutes after the Palisades Fire began suggests the origin of the smoke overlapped with the burn scar from an initial fire on NYE in the Temescal Ridge in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the inferno, combing the area for clues.
Palisades Fire is one of several horror fires that have caused heartbreaking death and destruction in LA in the last week.
So far, 24 people have been killed in the horror infernos – though the death toll is feared to be higher.
Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroners office.
At least 16 people are missing, a number authorities said warned is also likely to rise.
An apocalyptic landscape is all that remains in some areas, with flames reducing whole neighborhoods to smoldering ruins.
Celebrities lose homes to wildfires
The wildfires haven't spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
Those who have had their homes burned down include:
- John Goodman
- Anthony Hopkins
- Paris Hilton
- Leighton Meester and Adam Brody
- Billy Crystal
- Miles Teller
- Eugene Levy
- Anna Faris
- Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
- James Woods
- Hunter Biden
- Mel Gibson
Other celebrities have been forced to flee their homes after evacuation orders were issued for the Palisades and Sunset fires.
They include:
- Mark Hamill
- Mandy Moore
- Tom Hanks
- Reese Witherspoon
- Ben Affleck
Officials said at least 12,300 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather on Sunday but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more severe wind forecast.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph.
The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns warned at a community meeting Sunday night.
It could flare new fires at already burned homes and valleys and send embers to unburned territory miles downwind.
LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighborhoods.
She said: “There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public.”
Officials warned the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials.