Wildfire investigators say signs were there indicating Lachman Fire burn scar needed to be watched

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Did the Los Angeles Fire Department miss - or even ignore - crucial warning signs that the Lachman Fire was still smoldering?

Those questions come as 7 on Your Side Investigates has obtained more reports that smoke was possibly coming from the Lachman burn scar in the hours - and even days - after the department declared it was out.

A hiker, who did not want to be identified, shared video that he shot at the Lachman Fire burn scar that shows some smoke still coming up from the ground.

The timestamp on the video is 2:54 p.m. on January 1.

That's about 15 hours after firefighters rang in the New Year by racing to the fire that sparked just after midnight.

Smoldering spots at burn scars like you can see in the video are common, so they must be carefully watched, according to retired wildfire investigator Terry Taylor.

"Foresight tells you that you should create a patrol situation where you have people coming back with some equipment, or staying there, and rotating out for at least a week," he said.

But instead of watching the burn scar for a week, LAFD leaders said it was patrolled closer to 36 hours.

7 on Your Side Investigates has also obtained an LAFD Incident Report showing that on January 3, a "caller states wisp of smoke" near the burn scar.

Less than 20 minutes later, a responding crew reports "N/S" - which means "nothing showing" - and an additional crew is canceled.

The LAFD says its "Engine 23 arrived on scene at 12:06 p.m. ... physically walked the previous burn site" and then "At 12:40 p.m., after an extensive investigation, the incident was determined to be a false alarm, and all units were released."

Right before that call reporting possible smoke, a memo went out stating the "hose and equipment" left at the Lachman scene in case of a flare up had been removed.

We asked Taylor if that was too soon to pull the hose given the dry conditions we had in early January.

"It's very unusual," answered Taylor.

The Los Angeles Times reports firefighters on the ground warned they still saw hot spots here in the Lachman scar but were ordered to move on.

Well-respected LAFD veteran Deputy Chief Jaime Moore, who is expected to be confirmed as fire chief on Friday, said it alarms him that those firefighters' concerns were reportedly brushed off.

"I can assure you that we will investigate this fire," Moore said Wednesday at a council hearing.

Moore said from now on, hoses will not be pulled until a drone and thermal imaging ensures hot spots have been taken care of.