LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) — Eight months after a fire in the Pacific Palisades became California’s worst-ever wildfire, NewsNation has exclusively obtained documents that show what attorneys call “massive failures” by state and local officials that may have contributed to the disaster’s devastating toll.
The January fire killed 12 people, destroyed 7,000 structures and caused an estimated $18-20 billion in insured losses alone. Now, internal records obtained by victims’ attorneys show a series of missteps before, during and after the blaze.
Michel Valentine, who witnessed the fire’s start Jan. 7, said he called 911, but waited for help that never came.
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“I did not see any firefighters up there,” Valentine said. His home was among thousands destroyed and he has joined a lawsuit against the state, city and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
No predeployed resources went to Palisades despite recent brush fire
Attorney Roger Behle, representing more than 3,000 fire victims, said despite Gov. Gavin Newsom predeploying hand crews and 110 fire trucks to Southern California before the fire, none were sent to the Pacific Palisades, even though the area had experienced a brush fire five days earlier…