LAFD records show no sign of 'cold trailing' again at Lachman fire, as interim chief had claimed

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The Times has obtained records that call into question the LAFD’s statements about how thoroughly firefighters mopped up the Jan. 1 Lachman fire in the days before it reignited into the Palisades fire.

Then-Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said that firefighters returned to the burn area on Jan. 3 — due to a report of smoke — and “cold-trailed” an additional time.

A dispatch log shows that firefighters arrived at the scene that day and quickly reported seeing no smoke. The log does not mention cold trailing.

In the weeks since federal investigators announced that the devastating Palisades fire was caused by a reignition of a smaller blaze, top Los Angeles Fire Department offic