Pacific Palisades is one of those places that feels untouchable until the wind starts howling. It’s all jagged cliffs, multimillion-dollar views, and deep, dry brush that hasn't seen a drop of moisture in months. Then, the smoke appears. When the 2021 Palisades Fire broke out, the question of what started the fires in palisades wasn't just a matter of curiosity—it was a hunt. People were terrified. Homes were being evacuated in the middle of a pandemic, and the rugged terrain of Topanga State Park made it nearly impossible for ground crews to get a handle on the flames.
It wasn't a downed power line. It wasn't a lightning strike. Honestly, the truth was much more unsettling for the locals living along the coast.
The Arson Investigation That Gripped Los Angeles
Most California wildfires have a predictable villain. Usually, we're looking at Southern California Edison equipment sparking in the wind or perhaps a catalytic converter from a car idling over dry grass. But as the Palisades Fire ripped through over 1,300 acres, investigators quickly realized the math didn't add up. There were multiple ignition points. That's a huge red flag for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
They found their suspect deep in the brush.
Ramon Rodriguez Armas was eventually detained. But it wasn't a straightforward "gotcha" moment. If you remember the news coverage from those frantic 72 hours, there was actually a different man detained first and then released. It was chaotic. Police were using helicopters with infrared technology to track movement in the dense undergrowth of the canyon where no person should have been. Eventually, they found Rodriguez Armas, who was reportedly suffering from smoke inhalation and required medical treatment before he was even booked. He was charged with felony arson.
💡 You might also like: JD Vance River Raised Controversy: What Really Happened in Ohio
Why the Topography Made it a Nightmare
The Palisades aren't like the flatlands of the Valley. It’s all "V" shaped canyons. When a fire starts at the bottom of a canyon, it creates its own weather system. The heat rises, sucking oxygen in from the sides, and the fire literally races uphill faster than a person can run.
During the search for what started the fires in palisades, the weather was the primary accomplice. We call them the Santa Ana winds, but even without a full-blown wind event, the "onshore flow" from the Pacific Ocean can be deceptive. It feels cool, but it pushes the flames deeper into the dry Topanga wilderness. Firefighters were dealing with 50-degree slopes. You can’t drive a fire truck up a cliff. You have to drop "hotshots" in by hand or rely almost entirely on the heavy-duty water droppers.
The LAFD deployed their "Super Scoopers"—those massive fixed-wing aircraft that skim the surface of the ocean to fill their tanks. It’s a wild sight. They dive into the Santa Monica Bay, gulp up thousands of gallons of salt information, and then bank hard left to dump it on the ridges. Without those planes, the arsonist’s work would have likely burned straight into the residential streets of Topanga and the Highlands.
The Homelessness Crisis and Fire Risk
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. This isn't a political statement; it's a geographical reality that fire investigators deal with every single day in Los Angeles. The canyons of the Palisades have become a refuge for many unhoused individuals looking to escape the intensity of the city streets.
📖 Related: Who's the Next Pope: Why Most Predictions Are Basically Guesswork
When people ask what started the fires in palisades, they are often looking for a systemic answer. In the case of the 2021 fire, the suspect was described as part of the local unhoused community. This has sparked a massive, ongoing debate in Pacific Palisades and Brentwood about "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones." If someone is living in a canyon and lights a small cooking fire or a campfire for warmth, and a single ember hits a dead California Sagebrush? It’s over.
But this specific fire was different. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a cooking fire gone wrong. Prosecutors alleged it was intentional. That distinction matters because it changed how the community responded. It led to increased private security patrols in the hills and a massive push for the city to enforce "no camping" laws in high-risk brush areas.
The Role of "Old Growth" Brush
The brush in Topanga hasn't burned in some areas for over 50 years. Think about that. Decades of dead leaves, fallen branches, and dried-out scrub just sitting there. It’s basically a warehouse full of matches.
- Fuel Load: The sheer amount of burnable material per square acre was at record highs.
- Moisture Content: The "live fuel moisture" was well below the critical threshold of 60%.
- Access: Many of the spots where the fire was set had no fire roads, meaning crews had to hike in with chainsaws and hand tools.
When we look back at what started the fires in palisades, we see a "perfect storm" of human intent and environmental vulnerability. Even if the arsonist hadn't been there, the area was a ticking time bomb. One spark from a hiker’s cigarette or a rogue piece of glass magnifying the sun could have done it.
👉 See also: Recent Obituaries in Charlottesville VA: What Most People Get Wrong
Understanding the Legal Aftermath
The legal proceedings for these types of cases are often long and grueling. For the residents who lost their sense of safety, the arrest of Rodriguez Armas provided some closure, but it didn't fix the underlying anxiety. Arson in a fire-prone state like California is treated with extreme severity because of the potential for mass casualties.
The suspect faced charges under California Penal Code Section 451(c), which covers arson of forest land. Because the fire happened during a declared state of emergency (due to the drought and previous fire seasons), the sentencing enhancements were significant. It’s a reminder that in the West, fire is a weapon, whether it's used intentionally or through gross negligence.
Protecting Your Property in the Palisades
If you live in these hills, you can't control what happens in the deep canyons, but you can control your "defensible space." This is the only way to survive when the next fire inevitably happens.
- Zone Zero: This is the most critical. The first five feet around your house should have zero combustible material. No mulch, no woody bushes, no stacked firewood. Use gravel or stone.
- Hardening the Structure: Most houses in the Palisades don't burn because the flame front hits them. They burn because embers fly half a mile ahead of the fire and get sucked into attic vents. You need mesh screens that are 1/8th of an inch or smaller.
- Hydration: Keep your ornamental plants near the house hydrated, but don't overwater the native hillsides, as this can actually cause erosion issues later on.
The story of what started the fires in palisades is a cautionary tale about how fragile the "urban-wildland interface" really is. It only takes one person with a lighter and a bad day to threaten billions of dollars in property and thousands of lives.
Actionable Steps for Residents
The best thing you can do right now is download the LAFD's "Ready, Set, Go!" guide. It’s not just some PDF you'll never read; it actually outlines exactly which evacuation route you should take depending on which way the wind is blowing. Sign up for NotifyLA alerts immediately. If you wait until you see the smoke over the ridge to pack your bags, you’ve waited too long. The roads in the Palisades are narrow and winding—congestion happens in minutes. Get your "Go Bag" by the door the second a Red Flag Warning is issued. Stay vigilant, watch the canyons, and report any unauthorized smoke immediately. Speed is the only thing that beats a canyon fire.