(NewsNation) — The state of California is facing new scrutiny on the origins of the Palisades Fire, including allegations that state mismanagement caused the wildfire and the state lied in court about it.
According to documents obtained exclusively by NewsNation, it began in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 when an alleged arsonist started the Lachman Fire.
Six days later, underground embers reignited, starting a second and more devastating fire, the Palisades Fire.
In a response to a lawsuit filed by more than 3,000 Palisades residents alleging that the state failed to monitor embers from the initial fire, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told NewsNation the state wasn’t responsible.
“The state didn’t start this fire (that was an arsonist), and the state wasn’t responsible for responding to or monitoring the fire,” his office said in a statement.
In new court filings, the state went further, saying that Palisades victims cannot allege that the state had notice of the Lachman Fire because they themselves never had notice.
State records show a call at 12:27 a.m. on Jan. 1, but the rest of the incident report was redacted, including the response to that call.
But records from the Los Angeles Fire Department have more detail.
That LAFD incident report shows what the state has not revealed: That the LAFD contacted the state after midnight on Jan. 1, and a parks representative was on scene by 4 a.m.
“The LAFD’s records show not only did the LAFD notify the state just after midnight, the state sent a park representative at 1:46 in the morning on Jan. 1, and that state park representative arrived on scene at 4 a.m. on Jan. 1,” said Roger Behle, attorney for the Palisades Fire victims.
“If the state had no responsibility for this land, why are they sending a state park rep?” Behle asked. “The state is playing hide the ball. They’re not being transparent with the public. Tell us that you sent a state park rep, tell us what the state park rep did, tell us on the next day, Jan. 2, that you sent another state park rep who directed firefighters and said they couldn’t bulldoze.”
The state has not responded to specific questions from NewsNation regarding these documents and alleged events.