L.A. Firefighter Testifies Lachman Fire Not Fully Extinguished Before Crews Ordered to Leave

Firefighter Scott Pike says he warned a captain about smoldering hot spots, but his concerns were dismissed before the blaze reignited days later.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A Los Angeles firefighter named Scott Pike testified in a lawsuit that he warned a captain about smoldering hot spots and unextinguished embers at the Lachman fire, but his concerns were dismissed before the blaze reignited into the deadly Palisades fire five days later. Pike said there were still areas that were smoking and hot to the touch when crews were ordered to leave, but the captain did not heed his warnings.

Why it matters

This testimony contradicts previous claims by LAFD commanders that the Lachman fire was fully extinguished before crews left the scene. The revelation that firefighters' warnings were ignored raises questions about the department's procedures for ensuring fires are completely put out, as well as potential liability for the devastating Palisades fire that followed.

The details

According to Pike's sworn testimony, he told the captain on the scene that there were about five areas still smoking and with red hot coals and crackling, but the captain dismissed his concerns. Pike said he didn't want to use his gloved hand because the ground was so hot. Other firefighters also seemed eager to just pack up and leave, Pike said. He testified that he felt no one listened to his warnings, and that he was never interviewed for the LAFD's after-action report on the incident.

  • On January 2, the day after the Lachman fire, Pike warned a captain and two firefighters that the ground was still smoldering in the burn area.
  • Five days later, on January 7, the Lachman fire reignited into the deadly Palisades fire.

The players

Scott Pike

A Los Angeles firefighter who testified that he warned a captain about unextinguished hot spots at the Lachman fire, but his concerns were dismissed.

LAFD

The Los Angeles Fire Department, which was responsible for putting out the Lachman fire but has faced criticism for allegedly not ensuring it was fully extinguished before crews left the scene.

Kristin Crowley

The LAFD fire chief at the time who claimed the Lachman fire was "dead out" and that the department would not leave a fire with any hot spots.

Joe Everett

The LAFD chief deputy who also claimed the Lachman fire was fully extinguished, calling it a "phenomenon" if it reignited.

Mario Garcia

The LAFD battalion chief who texted that all hose and equipment had been picked up from the Lachman fire scene on January 2, shortly before the blaze reignited.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't even want to use my gloved hand because it was hot, so I just kicked it with my boot to kind of expose it. There was like red hot like coals that was still smoldering, and I even heard crackling.”

— Scott Pike, Firefighter (Los Angeles Times)

“That's how I approached him, is like, 'Hey, Cap ... We have hot spots in general. We have some ash pits.' That's an alert to double check the whole area and maybe we need to switch our tactics.”

— Scott Pike, Firefighter (Los Angeles Times)

“I saw something, I said something, and to my best ability I felt like we could have done more.”

— Scott Pike, Firefighter (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The judge in the lawsuit brought by Palisades fire victims against the city and state will likely review Pike's testimony as part of determining if there was negligence in the handling of the Lachman fire. The LAFD's internal investigation and independent review of the fires are also ongoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights serious concerns about the LAFD's procedures for ensuring fires are fully extinguished before crews depart, as well as potential communication breakdowns that may have contributed to the devastating Palisades fire. It raises questions about accountability and whether more could have been done to prevent the subsequent blaze.