Headline Roundup • January 17th, 2025
Has Arson Contributed to LA's Fires?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The cause of the Palisades fire is still under investigation, but at least five people have been charged with arson since the fires broke out on Jan. 7.
The Details: One theory is that a fire in the Palisades sparked by a firework on Jan. 1 was never fully extinguished, and the winds may have reignited it. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone was skeptical of the theory, saying a week was too long for a fire to re-establish. “We had numerous fires in the LA County region almost simultaneously, which leads us to believe that these fires were intentionally set by a person,” he added. Marrone said about half of the brushfires they respond to are intentionally set. They're also investigating a utility pole as the possible ignition point for the Eaton Fire that erupted on Jan. 7, based on video evidence.
For Context: The fires have claimed 27 lives and 12,000 businesses so far. Police have arrested people in cases of looting and arson, but finding the root cause of the fires could take months or years.
How The Media Covered It: Outlets on the right were more likely to focus on the immigration status of those arrested for arson, some of whom were unauthorized immigrants. Outlets on the left focused less on crime amidst the fires and more on firsthand accounts of the fires.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts have long been drawn to Skull Rock north of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades.
A relatively short hike on the Temescal Ridge trail reveals the skeletal-shaped Skull Rock and dramatic Pacific Ocean views.
Now, this area is the subject of an investigation as a potential starting point for the Palisades fire, which burned thousands of structures last week.
AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Los Angeles police said three people were charged with arson in separate incidents this week after they were caught lighting fires near where the massive, deadly blazes have torn through parts of Southern California.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the suspects, who were not identified, were not responsible for starting the infernos in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton that have claimed at least 25 lives since they ignited last week.
Authorities said one person was arrested Monday on Van Nuys Boulevard after the person was seen igniting a...
The hiking trail through Temescal Canyon in western Los Angeles is a favourite of locals.
Towering above the twisting roads and manicured homes that make up the Pacific Palisades, urban hikers seeking an escape from America's famously gridlocked city have a clear view of the pristine waters of the Pacific.
Now the green, brush-lined path in the canyons is grey and burned as far as the eye can see.
AllSides Picks
.png)
