Why was the blaze that turned into the deadly Palisades Fire allowed to smolder?

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Authorities Wednesday announced a 29-year-old man has been charged with sparking the deadly Palisades Fire, alleging the suspect started a small fire on New Year's Day that smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later into the devastating blaze.

Now a troubling question remains: Why was the Jan. 1 blaze, named Lachman Fire, allowed to smolder?

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was asked about the LAFD's response to the Lachman Fire and if any potential mistakes were made.

"To me, I think all things need to be examined," Bass said. "We need to look at the fire department. We need to look at everything."

Months ago, ABC7's 7 On Your Side Investigates asked the LAFD a series of questions about the Lachman Fire, including:

- How long did LAFD monitor the burn scar from the Lachman Fire?

- Were trenches dug around the burn scar from the Lachman Fire?

LAFD said it would "not be commenting at this time" given an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

But 7 On Your Side has obtained an LAFD bulletin that was sent out to staff. The bulletin is dated March 12, 2025 - a few months after the fires.

It details containment for brush fires big and small and says, "This policy provides clear operational guidelines for fire containment and mop-up procedures to ensure complete extinguishment..."

"This definitely brings up a large doubt that LAFD followed that exact policy, adhered to that policy right to the letter of the law," said Rick Crawford, a retired LAFD battalion chief.

Crawford says the timing of that memo raises questions. He also says LAFD firefighters should have been meticulously monitoring the Lachman burn scar on site as the Santa Ana winds flared up on Jan. 7.

"This was an opportunity for those incident commanders in that area to go investigate and look at that fire before the winds arrived," Crawford said.

Meanwhile, investigators revealed Wednesday that the suspect, Jonathan Rinderknecht, did try to call 911 after he allegedly sparked the Lachman Fire but his signal wasn't strong.

Others did call - and for the first time we're hearing the first call to 911 as the Lachman Fire spread.

"Hi, there's been a fire in the top of the Palisades, in the Highlands. It is at the summit, and it is getting larger and larger," the caller is heard saying in the call.

7 On Your Side did stop at Rinderknecht's former Hollywood apartment building.

A stunned building employee said over the phone that Rinderknecht was very polite with clean-cut friends.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.