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Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by the Palisades Fire
Status as of June 15, 2026. Please confirm current status with the firm.
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The Palisades Fire (2025) was a California wildfire in Los Angeles County, with 23,448 acres, 6,845 structures destroyed, 12 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as suspected. Litigation filed. Status as of June 15, 2026, per LADWP. Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by this fire as of June 15, 2026.
The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres of Pacific Palisades and the Santa Monica Mountains in January 2025. It killed 12 people and destroyed 6,845 structures, according to CAL FIRE's completed damage inspection. It is third on CAL FIRE's list of the most destructive California wildfires.
Investigators concluded that it grew out of an earlier fire. The Lachman Fire started in the hills above the Palisades just after midnight on January 1, 2025 and was put out within hours. According to the affidavit described by federal prosecutors, it kept smoldering underground in the roots of dense vegetation, and the winds of January 7 brought it back to the surface.
Who is responsible is still contested, on two fronts. Federal prosecutors charged a man with deliberately setting the Lachman Fire. A jury could not agree on a verdict in June 2026, the judge declared a mistrial, and a retrial is set for November 2, 2026. No one has been convicted.
The second front is how the first fire was handled. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the Palisades Fire was the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire, not a failure of suppression. A review commissioned by the Governor's office, published October 2, 2026, found that the department had no detailed procedure for mop-up, patrol and closeout of vegetation fires, and that hose lines were removed from the burn area on January 2 despite conditions indicating they should stay.
The civil litigation is a separate matter, covered below. CAL FIRE's own figures for this fire differ: its incident page gives 23,448 acres and 6,845 structures destroyed, and its Top 20 list gives 23,707 acres and 6,833.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2025-01-07 |
| Containment date | 2025-01-31 |
| Region / counties | Los Angeles |
| Acreage | 23,448 |
| Structures destroyed | 6,845 |
| Structures damaged | 975 |
| Fatalities | 12 |
| Cause status | suspected |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Last verified | 2026-10-02 |
Cause
No court has determined the cause. CAL FIRE's incident page and its Top 20 list give the cause of the Palisades Fire as arson. Federal prosecutors allege that the fire was a holdover, a continuation of the Lachman Fire, which they say a man deliberately set shortly after midnight on January 1, 2025 and which smoldered underground until heavy winds brought it to the surface on January 7. He was charged in October 2025 and pleaded not guilty. His trial in June 2026 ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict, and a retrial is set for November 2, 2026. A charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the January 7 fire was the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire, not a rekindle or a failure of suppression. A review commissioned by the Governor's office, published October 2, 2026, did not investigate origin and cause, and found gaps in how the Lachman Fire burn area was mopped up and monitored.
What happened
Wind-driven flames moved quickly through the Pacific Palisades area and adjacent communities, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying thousands of homes and businesses along the coast.
Palisades Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Lachman Fire starts in the hills above Pacific Palisades shortly after midnight and is suppressed within hours.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
The Palisades Fire starts at 10:30 AM in the same area during a severe wind event.
Source: CAL FIRE
The Palisades Fire is contained.
Source: CAL FIRE
Federal prosecutors announce the arrest of a man on a complaint alleging he maliciously set the Lachman Fire, and say the Palisades Fire was a holdover of it.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
The Los Angeles Fire Department publishes its after-action review and says the January 7 fire was the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire.
Source: Los Angeles City Fire Department
A federal grand jury returns a three-count indictment.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
After a 13-day trial, the court declares a mistrial.
Source: Los Angeles Times
The court sets the retrial for November 2, 2026.
The final pretrial conference is moved to October 22, 2026.
A fire analysis commissioned by the Governor's office is published, including a review of how the Lachman Fire was handled.
Source: UL Research Institutes, Fire Safety Research Institute
Litigation status
Litigation filed. Status as of June 15, 2026, per LADWP.
After the Palisades Fire, lawsuits were filed in the Los Angeles courts, including claims involving local water and utility infrastructure and the conditions that allowed the fire to spread through coastal neighborhoods. The cases are consolidated for pretrial purposes only before the Los Angeles Superior Court under lead case Grigsby v. City of Los Angeles, No. 25STCV00832, assigned to Hon. Samantha Jessner, Dept. 7; the action was filed January 13, 2025 and, per Case Management Order No. 3 dated March 26, 2026, no trial date is set. This entry confirms that litigation exists on the public record as of the status date and nothing more; it does not assess the claims or any individual’s situation. Robertson & Associates filed the first lawsuit over the Palisades Fire, against the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, on January 13, 2025, which the court designated the lead case. Alexander “Trey” Robertson IV is one of four Liaison Counsel for Individual Plaintiffs in the Palisades Fire Litigation, per the court’s appointments as published on the court-authorized case portal. The firm reports representing more than 3,300 clients in the matter (per Robertson & Associates).
Lawsuits have been filed in connection with the Palisades Fire, including claims involving local water and utility infrastructure. This entry reports only that litigation exists in the public record as of the status date.
Court & regulatory record
- Robertson & Associates, Palisades Fire case page , Robertson & Associates, LLP
- Florida Man Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging He Maliciously Started What Became the Palisades Fire (October 8, 2025) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former L.A. Resident Charged with Starting Palisades Fire (October 15, 2025) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- Order continuing trial date to November 2, 2026 (filed August 20, 2026) , U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Case 2:25-cr-00833)
- Palisades Fire After-Action Review Report (October 8, 2025) , Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Southern California Fires Incident Analysis Report (October 2, 2026) , UL Research Institutes, Fire Safety Research Institute, for the Office of the Governor of California
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person. If you have questions about yours, contact us and we will help.
Key figures on the public record
Each figure below was published by the court, agency, or company named beside it, on the date shown. These describe the case and the disaster, not any individual’s situation.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned | 23,448 | CAL FIRE, April 9, 2026 |
| Acres burned, Top 20 list | 23,707 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Structures destroyed | 6,845 | CAL FIRE, April 9, 2026 |
| Structures destroyed, Top 20 list | 6,833 | CAL FIRE, August 4, 2026 |
| Structures damaged | 975 | CAL FIRE, April 9, 2026 |
| Deaths | 12 | CAL FIRE, April 9, 2026 |
| Criminal trial over the cause | Mistrial June 26, 2026; retrial set for November 2, 2026 | U.S. District Court, Central District of California, August 20, 2026 |
| Insurance paid, residential | $15,560,406,994 | CA Dept of Insurance, July 6, 2026 |
| Trial date | Not set | LA Superior Court, CMO 3, March 26, 2026 |
| Lead case | Grigsby v. City of LA, No. 25STCV00832 (Judge Jessner, Dept. 7) | LA Superior Court, CMO 3, March 26, 2026 |
Full context, with every source and date: key dates and numbers and insured losses.
Video coverage
Broadcast coverage of this fire and its litigation, published by the newsroom named on each item.
LA could have done better to protect homes from Palisades Fire, lawsuit says
The amended complaint was filed on behalf of 3,300 fire victims. Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Videos are embedded from the publisher’s own channel and remain their work. A segment about this litigation is reporting, not legal advice, and does not describe any individual’s situation.
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Palisades Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Oct 2, 2026Botched Altadena evacuations, dysfunction in Pacific Palisades: Long-awaited fire investigation identifies misstepsLos Angeles Times
- Aug 19, 2026Man accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire pleads not guilty, againLAist
- Aug 19, 2026Palisades fire arson retrial set for NovemberNBC Los Angeles
- Aug 19, 2026Palisades Fire arson suspect pleads not guilty to new, reduced charges following mistrialCBS News Los Angeles
- Aug 19, 2026Palisades Fire suspect pleads not guilty to revised chargesKTLA
- Aug 16, 2026Arson suspect in Palisades Fire faces 1 less criminal charge in revised indictment ahead of retrialABC7 Los Angeles
- Aug 14, 2026Jonathan Rinderknecht: Prosecutors narrow their case ahead of the retrial of the man accused of setting the Palisades fireCNN
- Jun 26, 2026Federal arson trial over Palisades wildfires ends in mistrialNBC Los Angeles
- Jun 26, 2026Palisades Fire Arson Trial Ends In Mistrial After Jury DeadlockLaw360
- Jun 26, 2026LA Palisades Fire Jury Fails to Reach Verdict in Arson TrialBloomberg
- Jun 26, 2026Mistrial declared in case against Palisades Fire arson suspect, Justice Department saysCBS News
- Jun 25, 2026Jury remains deadlocked in trial of Palisades Fire arson suspectCBS Los Angeles
- Jun 24, 2026Jury hears final arguments in arson trial of Palisades Fire suspect Jonathan RinderknechtABC7 Los Angeles
- Jun 24, 2026Jury deliberations underway in trial of Palisades Fire arson suspectCBS Los Angeles
- Jun 22, 2026Closing arguments expected in arson trial of Palisades Fire suspect Jonathan RinderknechtABC7 Los Angeles
- Jun 19, 2026Palisades and Eaton Fire victims going after State Farm for how insurance company handled claimsABC7 Los Angeles
- Jun 11, 2026Mayor Karen Bass’ brother joins lawsuit over Palisades Fire lossesKTLA 5
- Jun 11, 2026Mayor Karen Bass' brother suing LA after his home burned in Palisades FireABC7 Los Angeles
- Jul 9, 2025Palisades Fire lawsuit expands, claiming city of LA could have been better preparedNBC4 Los Angeles
Common questions about the Palisades Fire
What caused the Palisades Fire?
No court has determined the cause. CAL FIRE's incident page and its Top 20 list give the cause of the Palisades Fire as arson. Federal prosecutors allege that the fire was a holdover, a continuation of the Lachman Fire, which they say a man deliberately set shortly after midnight on January 1, 2025 and which smoldered underground until heavy winds brought it to the surface on January 7. He was charged in October 2025 and pleaded not guilty. His trial in June 2026 ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict, and a retrial is set for November 2, 2026. A charge is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the January 7 fire was the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire, not a rekindle or a failure of suppression. A review commissioned by the Governor's office, published October 2, 2026, did not investigate origin and cause, and found gaps in how the Lachman Fire burn area was mopped up and monitored.
Is there litigation over the Palisades Fire?
Litigation filed. Status as of June 15, 2026, per LADWP. Robertson & Associates was representing people affected by this fire as of June 15, 2026.
What areas did the Palisades Fire affect?
The Palisades Fire (Los Angeles County) affected communities including Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Topanga, Brentwood, Sunset Mesa.
How large was the Palisades Fire?
23,448 acres, 6,845 structures destroyed, 12 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-02.
What caused the Palisades Fire?
No court has determined the cause of the January 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. CAL FIRE lists the cause as arson. Federal prosecutors allege it was a holdover of the Lachman Fire, which they say was deliberately set on January 1, 2025 and smoldered underground until winds revived it on January 7. That allegation has not been proven: a trial ended in a mistrial in June 2026.
Has anyone been convicted of starting the Palisades Fire?
No. A man was charged in federal court in October 2025 with setting the Lachman Fire that prosecutors say became the Palisades Fire, and he pleaded not guilty. His trial ended in a mistrial on June 26, 2026 when the jury could not reach a verdict. A retrial is set for November 2, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Was the Palisades Fire a rekindle of the Lachman Fire?
Federal prosecutors and the Los Angeles Fire Department both describe the January 7, 2025 Palisades Fire as a holdover of the January 1 Lachman Fire. The Fire Department says it was the reactivation of an undetectable holdover fire, not a rekindle or failed suppression. A state-commissioned review published October 2, 2026 found the department had no detailed mop-up, patrol and closeout procedure for vegetation fires.
How many structures did the Palisades Fire destroy?
CAL FIRE's incident page, based on completed damage inspections, lists 6,845 structures destroyed and 975 damaged in the January 2025 Palisades Fire, with 12 deaths and 23,448 acres burned. CAL FIRE's Top 20 list gives 6,833 structures and 23,707 acres.
Sources
- Palisades Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
- Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires, linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Release on the arrest and complaint, October 8, 2025, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- Release on the indictment, October 15, 2025, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- Order continuing trial date, No. 2:25-cr-00833, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- Suspect arrest statement and after-action review report, October 9, 2025, Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Southern California Fires Incident Analysis Report, UL Research Institutes, Fire Safety Research Institute
- Mistrial declared in Palisades fire arson case, Los Angeles Times
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.