While the situation appears to be improving slightly, authorities continue to investigate the nature of wildfires that have affected several areas of Los Angeles over the past week, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people and the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
Law enforcement officials are pursuing several leads, including one concerning the possible arson nature of the fires. However, a meticulous analysis will need to be completed before determining definitively whether arsonists are behind the disaster. Fires break out frequently in the wooded areas of Los Angeles, many of them caused unintentionally by homeless people. However, the fires almost never become out-of-control when there are no strong winds present, unlike what happened this week.
“You don’t need a gang of arsonists to go out there and be starting fires because nature is taking care of that for you,” said Scott Fischer, a retired federal law enforcement arson investigator. “There are arsonists out there, but are there a band of arsonists running around Los Angeles right now? Not likely.”
However, according to experts, some of the “minor” fires that broke out this week, succeeding the one in Palisades, may have been set by some unknown person. “An event of this magnitude often triggers a reaction from people, who see it as something to imitate,” explained Terry Taylor, a former forest fire investigator.
At the same time, insiders said the process of establishing the nature of the fires will take weeks. The first step will be to pinpoint exactly where the flames began to spread. Items such as charred debris nearby may be vital clues. To facilitate the search, investigators often use metal detectors, magnets, magnifying glasses or even binoculars.
For experts, it is unlikely that the most dangerous fires in recent days, namely the Palisades and Eaton fires, were started by arsonists. However, before the investigation is closed, even the latter track cannot be dismissed out of hand. It may take several days for investigators to determine the cause of the fires. Should, in some cases, the arson trail be established, several deaths may no longer be regarded as accidents, but as homicides.
The flames are not the only cause of concern to authorities, but also the massive clouds of smoke generated by the fires. The incineration of plastics, metals and other materials releases harmful chemicals and gases into the air, which in some cases can be life-threatening.
One of the greatest dangers of smoke from wildfires is particulate matter, a mix of tiny particles, called PM 2.5, that can settle deep in the lungs. They are small enough to enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs in the body.
PM 2.5 exposure during forest fires is associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrest, heart failure, asthma attacks, strokes and other diseases. Experts say its adverse effects can spread for hundreds of miles.
