A fire that burned thousands of acres and destroyed hundreds of structures in Ventura County in 2024 has prompted an independent review and may have followed a similar pattern to the deadly fire that tore through a large swath of Pacific Palisades last January, according to information released Friday.
The Mountain Fire, which burned almost 20,000 acres, damaged or destroyed 369 structures and caused a number of injuries, broke out on Nov. 6, 2024 in the Somis area. The blaze was preceded about a week earlier by the Oct. 30, 2024, Balcom Fire, which burned about 1.8 acres.
Fire investigators determined that the earlier Balcom Fire was ignited when a tractor clearing brush in the Balcom Canyon area sparked a fire.
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, strong winds “dislodged a previously covered pocket of hot debris from the remains of one of the tractor’s tires, gave it the oxygen needed to burn and carried that fire beyond the containment area where it ignited dry vegetation, starting the Mountain Fire.”
The Ventura County Fire Department has reached an agreement with Cal Fire for an independent review of operations during the Balcom Fire “that preceded and eventually led to the Mountain Fire,” officials said.
Appointed to conduct the review were Cal Fire Southern Region Chief Mike van Loben Sels and Cal Fire San Diego Unit and County Fire Chief Tony Mecham.
“Cal Fire will review VCFD’s operations and command decisions related to the Balcom Fire, then share its findings and recommendations with the Ventura County Fire Department,” according to the department’s statement.
In the case of the Palisades Fire, investigators suspect the blaze grew out of the so-called Lachman Fire, which started about a week earlier and was allegedly ignited by 29-year-old former Pacific Palisades resident Jonathan Rinderknecht.
He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire.
Rinderknecht was arrested in Orlando, returned to Los Angeles and remains in custody. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in federal prison.