A Federal Grand Subpoena was issued to the Los Angeles Fire Department to obtain firefighter text messages and other communications about smoke or hot spots in the Jan.
The Times reported last week that the Battalion Chief ordered firefighters to pack up their hoses and leave the burned area the day after the Lachman Fire, despite complaints that the ground was still hot to the touch. In a memo, the department notified its employees of the subpoena, which was said to have been issued by the US attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
“The subpoena seeks any communications, including text messages, related to reports of fire, smoke, or hotspots received between” 10 PM annually 10 am 10 am 10 am 10 am.
A spokesman for the US Attorney’s office declined to confirm whether a subpoena had been issued and did not otherwise comment. The memo did not include a copy of the subpoena.
The memo said the subpoena was issued in connection with an “ongoing criminal investigation” by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Last month, an AFF investigation led to the arrest of former Pacific Palisades Redident Jonathan Rindennecht, who is accused of intentionally setting Jan.
It is unclear from the memo whether the subpoena is directly related to the case against Rindennecht, who has pleaded guilty.
During Randernecht’s investigation, ATF agents concluded that the fire was set and burned for days underground “within the plant’s root structure,” until heavy winds caused a criminal complaint to be filed against Rindernecht.
The second fire, the worst in the history of the city, killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes, businesses and other structures.
Last week, documents cited times between firefighters in reporting that crews who tackled the Lachman fire alerted the Blaze chief were still burning.
The battalion chief listed as on duty every day firefighters were ordered to leave the Lachman fire, Mario Garcia, did not respond to requests for comment.
In one text, a firefighter who was at the scene on Jan. 2 we wrote that it was the head of the Battalion “it was a “bad idea” to leave because of the visible signs of smoking the smoking area, which was presented by the works that were afraid it could start to be exposed to fire if left.
“The rest is history,” said a firefighter quoted in recent weeks.
A second firefighter was told that tree stumps were still burning in the area when the packed group left, according to documents. And a third firefighter said this month that members were frustrated when they were told to pack up and leave but could ignore the orders, according to the documents. The third firefighter wrote that he and his colleagues came there in person that the fire was rekindling Jan.
The Fire Department did not respond to questions about the Firefighters Extinguishment Account for the text but previously said officials were doing everything possible to ensure the Lachman column was extinguished. The department did not provide dispatch records for all firefighting and mop-up operations prior to Jan. 7.
After the Times published the story, Mayor Ren Bass directed fire chief Ronnie Villanueva to launch an investigation into the matter, while critics of his administration called for an independent investigation.
