Updated at 5:01 p.m. PDT May 17, 2021
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced Monday morning that an adult male suspected of igniting the Palisades Fire was detained, questioned and then arrested Sunday afternoon by LAFD Arson Investigators. Ralph M. Terrazas, Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a 10 a.m. press conference on Monday that personnel in a Police Department helicopter observed the ignition of the fire, as well as a second ignition later but lost sight of him in the smoke and dense brush. The suspect was treated Sunday for smoke inhalation.
The intensity and spread of the fire slowed considerably Sunday night and Monday. As predicted, the visibility improved Monday afternoon enough to allow the use of three fixed wing air tankers which dropped retardant to assist firefighters on the ground. They supplemented the work being done by helicopters that have been dropping water. The fire has burned 1,325 acres.
There has been no change in the existing Mandatory Evacuation orders in the County of Los Angeles or the Evacuation Warning in the City of Los Angeles.
No structures have been damaged. One firefighter sustained a minor injury.
Updated at 9:52 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021
The active investigation into the cause of the Palisades Fire continues. Arson investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department detained and released one individual, but at 6 p.m. PDT they announced that they are questioning a second person.
The latest information about the fire puts it at 1,325 acres, but these fire updates have been running many hours behind the actual fire activity.
The weather will turn against the firefighters Monday afternoon when the wind out of the southwest will increase to 10 mph and gusts to 16 mph, with relative humidity dropping into the 50s. The cloud cover will decrease after 11 a.m. which may allow the use of fixed wing air tankers.
Updated at 4:04 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021
At 3:05 p.m. Sunday the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the Palisades Fire near Topanga, California was mapped at 1,325 acres.
The Department issued a warning at 2 p.m. Sunday for residences in a portion of The Summit community to be ready to evacuate.
An Evacuation Warning is now in effect for the following area (as shown on the map above): Starting at the 1500 block of Chastain Parkway W – all homes north of Chastain Parkway over to Calle Del Cielo (eastern boundary). The warning area includes Calle De Sarah, Calle Bellevista and all homes West of Calle Del Cielo / Ave Ashley up to the hills.
All residents in this area are asked to prepare for a potential evacuation based on the developing fire activity. Secure your valuables, medicines, etc in your car and be prepared if asked to evacuate.
The visibility over the fire is not adequate to allow the use of fixed wing aircraft, but helicopters are still assisting firefighters. Departments that sent helicopters include LA FD, LA County, Ventura County, and Orange County.
12:01 p.m. PDT May 16, 2021
No structures have been damaged. One firefighter sustained a minor injury. There are no reported injuries to any civilians.
The Palisades Fire just east of Topanga, California remained active Saturday night and early Sunday morning in spite of the relative humidity rising above 90 percent and one weather station southwest of the fire recording a trace of rainfall. The moderate rate of spread seen Saturday during humidity conditions that would usually strongly inhibit significant spread of a vegetation fire is likely due to steep slopes, an uphill wind, a buildup of vegetation in the 60 years since the last fire, and lower than average live fuel moistures.
The fire is 5 miles northwest of Santa Monica, CA in Topanga State Park. It is within the city limits of Los Angeles but is very close to crossing the boundary into an area protected by Los Angeles County, if it has not already. (See the map of the fire above.)
At 10:29 a.m. the LA County FD reported it had been mapped at 835 acres. They did not specify when that mapping data was obtained, but it could have been Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
The Palisades Fire is threatening the Topanga and Sylvia Park communities along Highway 27. As of 11 a.m. Sunday, there is no change in the evacuation orders that were issued Saturday evening affecting approximately 1,000 people:
*MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ORDERED* See attached images. If you live in Zone 4 or Zone 6 in Topanga (boxes outlined in blue) please evacuate. Also hard closure at Topanga/Mulholland and Topanga/PCH #PalisadesFire
#@LAFD @CAL_FIRE pic.twitter.com/pXLaa66Y0h— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) May 16, 2021
The weather Saturday afternoon will be a little more conducive to fire growth. According to a spot weather forecast for the fire area, the high temperature will be 63-67 degrees, the relative humidity will drop to 55-60 percent, with an upslope wind out of the south or southwest at 5-10 mph gusting to 15 in the afternoon. This wind direction could push the fire to the north or northeast.
Sunday morning the LA FD said, “The fire cause is deemed to be a ‘suspicious start’ and it remains an open, active investigation (no further details).” On Saturday the Special Enforcement Bureau of the LA County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that their officers were inserted by helicopter in the fire area in search of an arson suspect. MyNewsLA reported that the search was confirmed by Deputy Alejandra Parra of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Helicopters are dropping water on the fire in support of ground personnel.
No structures have been damaged and no injuries reported.
When will the de facto fire managers – e.g. our elected representatives – get a clue ?
After lightning strikes, fires at homeless encampments seem to be the most common source of fire starts, cited in the news. The fire in Bel Air a few years ago, the Canyonville fire in Oregon in 2019, etc.
In the Newtonian universe, it’s obviously simple to allow tent cities in urban areas, away from normal encampments in the woods.
Not so simple in the political universe.
The other changes I would expect to see, to deflect my perception that we are en-route to a Whopper of a fire year, is a possible move to remove catalytic converters from old cars, and replace them with old-fashioned mufflers.
We had a fire start in our county earlier in the year that was determined to be, pieces of hot metal falling off a catalytic converter. It started about 10 spot fires and they were all successfully doused – mid-drought-winter.
I can’t come up with the news service I read this at late last night. It referred to the Sheriff saying they had discounted Hilton as a suspect; instead, they were searching for another, unnamed homeless man as a their suspect. I’ll update if I find the article, or hear more.
Here’s the article I referred to; it looks to be a small ‘local’ publication https://www.circlingthenews.com/arson-suspect-sought-after-fires-are-set-in-the-highlands-and-topanga-state-park/
A total of four fires were set last night. Initially, investigators suspected a local homeless man named “Hilton” who reportedly builds shrines and then sets them on fire. Later on Saturday, the LAFD investigators said they had determined that “Hilton” is NOT the culprit. That person is another homeless man known to authorities.
Hilton, on probation? It sounds like everyone would be better off, homes and lives saved, resources saved, if this man was incarcerated for previous arsons. I hope no homes and lives are lost and thus fire is quickly contained.