Elite Fire Investigation Team Called In To Determine Palisades Fire's Origin

LOS ANGELES, CA — A elite team from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives met for the first time this week after being called in to investigate the origin and cause of the Palisades Fire.

After ATF fire investigators completed their initial assessment of the Palisades Fire on Friday, officials made the rare decision to call on the advanced resources of the ATF's National Response Team. The team works on fewer than 20 cases a year on average, the ATF's Jose Medina said Tuesday.

The ATF is leading the investigation due to the fire's size and scope, Medina said. The blaze has burned over 37 square miles and is connected to at least eight fatalities and the destruction of at least 5,000 structures, officials said.

Officials have repeatedly said that they're keen to determine if the Palisades and other ongoing wildfires were of human origin — and if that's the case, hold the person or people responsible.

"If it is determined that there is a man-made, an intentional setting of any of the fires ... the people who committed this arson will be arrested, will be prosecuted and they will be punished to the full extent of the law," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said last week.

And officials are confident ATF's might will help get answers.

"ATF possesses unparalleled expertise in determining the origin and cause of fires, even under the most complex and challenging conditions," said Medina, the acting special agent in charge of the ATF's Los Angeles field division.

The National Response Team is made up of 20 ATF staff from around the country. At their disposal are certified fire investigators, chemists, electrical engineers, accelerant-detection dogs, a fire research lab, intelligence research specialists, digital media specialists and other technical experts, Medina said.

Working in collaboration with the Los Angeles police and fire departments, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, District Attorney's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office, there are some 75 people dedicated to the Palisades Fire investigation, he said.

There's two separate groups of investigators — one that processes the physical fire scene and another that follows investigative leads.

"The team processing the leads has been gathering video and photo from residents in the area, as well as video and photos from social media, along with conducting interviews of witnesses and first responders," Medina said.

Additionally, that team is going through 911 recordings, he said.

The two teams reconvene in the evenings to share information, he said.

"We know everyone wants answers and the community deserves answers — ATF will give you those answers, but it will be once we complete a thorough investigation," Medina said.

He said he has no timeline of when that will occur.

Medina made a point to say that rumors about the cause of the fire — such as that the fire originated from a New Year's Eve blaze started by fireworks — are "all theories" that he would not comment on.

Anyone with information about the Palisades Fire should text "ATFLA" to 63975, follow the link that will be sent in a reply and submit a report. Tips can remain anonymous, he said.