How an underground fire turned into the Palisades Fire

With its announcement of an arrest in the Palisades Fire , federal officials also released new details on how one of the worst fires in Los Angeles County history began from the remnants of a week-old blaze.

The Lachman Fire was initially limited to about eight acres and didn't destroy any structures, but investigations revealed that catastrophic Santa Ana winds may have rekindled embers that led to the Palisades Fire beginning near the same location.

"Although firefighters suppressed the [Lachman Fire], the fire continued to smolder and burn underground within the root structure of the dense vegetation," acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said after announcing the arrest. "It smoldered underground for about a week until, on Jan. 7, heavy winds caused this underground fire to surface