'No indication' firefighters raised concerns about Lachman Fire, LAFD chief says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two months into the job, Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore is sitting down with 7 On Your Side Investigates.

The Los Angeles Times reports that there are text messages among firefighters who mopped up the Lachman Fire, warning that fire was still smoldering.

We now know that fire burned underground and was the source of the Palisades Fire.

7 On Your Side Investigates asked Moore if he has seen those text messages.

"I have asked everyone if there's any text messages to please show them to me," Moore told ABC7. "I've spoken directly with the incident commander, and he swears to me, nobody ever said anything to him about the fire still burning."

Moore was asked if he has learned of any indication that those firefighters in the Palisades who responded to the Lachman Fire on Jan. 1, 2025 raised any alarms about hot spots and were told to leave the scene earlier than they should have.

"I have no indication that they did that other than what's been reported in the media," Moore responded. "I have to believe it, but nobody's ever come forward."

Moore says he's leaving the investigation into how the LAFD handled the Lachman Fire to independent investigators, but he says heat-detecting drones will now fly over burn scars to spot any rekindling.

"In hindsight, should we have been better at this fire? Absolutely. And that's why I'm coming forward and saying that we have to own that. We could have done better," Moore told 7 On Your Side.

But Moore is inheriting not just a trust crisis, but a severe staffing shortage, too.

With 100 firefighting positions unfilled right now, the chief says he's looking into investing in trucks smaller than the standard engine, so smaller units of firefighters can go on lower priority calls.

"It's a big challenge that I've inherited. I'm ready for it, I'm excited about it," Moore said.

"I just want the public to understand it's going to take time."

Both current and retired LAFD firefighters have told 7 On Your Side Investigates that they feel Moore is the right person to turn the department around.

We asked the chief if that's adding pressure to an already difficult job.

"Well, I can tell you, I don't want to let anybody down," Moore answered.

"I don't want to let the public down, and I don't want to let the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department down."