The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has acknowledged shortcomings in its handling of the 2025 Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures. The admission follows the release of an independent investigation commissioned by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The report, conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute at UL Research Institutes, identified critical failures in the department’s response in the days leading up to the blaze. It found that the department did not adequately address warnings about the Lachman fire, which began on January 1 and was still smoldering days before the Palisades fire erupted on January 7. Investigators noted the absence of comprehensive procedures to ensure that such fires were fully extinguished before dangerous weather conditions returned.

Once the Palisades fire ignited, the LAFD faced challenges in managing its personnel and operations. The report highlighted difficulties in tracking all responding units and pointed to a lack of effective coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department, which played a significant role in managing evacuation efforts.

In a statement responding to the investigation, the LAFD acknowledged the department’s responsibility in the events surrounding the fire. The statement emphasized areas requiring improvement, including verifying that fires are completely out during high-risk periods, enhancing methods for tracking and directing units during major incidents, and improving evacuation planning in collaboration with partner agencies.

“While FSRI found that no single decision explains last year’s tragedy, that does not lessen LAFD’s responsibility for the decisions that were ours,” the department said. “The report identifies a number of areas where the LAFD must do better. They include how we confirm a fire is truly out before dangerous weather returns, how we track and direct every unit on a major fire, and how we plan and carry out evacuations with our partners. We accept those findings.”

The Palisades fire remains one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s recent history. The independent investigation aims to guide reforms to prevent similar disasters in the future. Officials have not yet announced specific changes to policies or protocols, but the findings have underscored the urgency of addressing identified gaps in fire detection, response management, and interagency coordination.