Mayor Karen Bass calls for investigation into LAFD’s handling of smoldering blaze that became Palisades Fire 

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is calling for an investigation into the Lachman Fire after a Los Angeles Times report indicated that firefighters were ordered to abandon the smoldering underground fire that later became the Palisades Fire.

According to text messages, firefighters told their battalion chief that "the ground was still smoldering and rocks remained hot to the touch" after responding to the Lachman Fire, which ignited on New Year's Day before being contained.

However, the battalion chief ordered fire crews to “roll up their hoses and pull out of the area on Jan. 2 — the day after the 8-acre blaze was declared contained — rather than stay and make sure there were no hidden embers that could spark a new fire,” according to the Times report.

Days later on Jan. 7, gusty winds continued