Will Rogers Historic Ranchhouse Burned in the Palisades Fire.
The Fire Management Plan map shows hydrants and sprinklers.
When the 1926 Will Rogers State Historic Ranch House burned on the evening of January 7, Circling the News wanted to know the agency responsible for its fire defense. The home was surrounded by a large green lawn and the historic polo fields, which are irrigated. The building had an extensive sprinkler system and there are hydrants throughout the park.
State Park Information Officer Jo Biswas said, “On January 7, several hours before flames reached the park, State Parks staff activated the rooftop fire suppression systems at both the Ranch House and Visitor Center.
“Irrigation and sprinklers on the hillside behind the Ranch House were also activated several hours in advance. State Parks staff observed no noticeable loss of water pressure at any time,” Biswas said. “By the time the park was completely evacuated at approximately 5:15 p.m., the buildings and surrounding grounds had been thoroughly soaked, and all systems were functioning. In fact, several sprinklers remained operational and continued running for days after the fire.” (The park receives its water from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.)
Members of California State Parks removed artifacts from the home prior to the fire at the park.
Photo: © California State Parks, all rights reserved.
Park staff loaded artifacts into trucks.
Photo: © California State Parks, all rights reserved.
Cal Fire’s Deputy Director of Communications Nick Schuler was helpful in unraveling the jurisdiction. Although the State has ownership of the park, the L.A. City Fire Department has “direct protection,” and annexed that property in 1956 and was responsible for fire suppression.
City, county and state vehicles arrived in Pacific Palisades to help fight the fire on January 7. At that time, L.A. City (LAFD) and L.A. County were in Unified Command (in charge). They requested Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team (IMT) who assumed command at 8 a.m. on January 8. All future decisions were made by IMT, LAFD, Los Angeles Police Department and LA County Fire Department.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was stationed at Will Rogers, but then left.
Photo: © California State Parks, all rights reserved.
CTN reached out to LAFD public spokesperson Margaret Stewart to find out the timing of when city firetrucks were assigned to Will Rogers. She said that information was not available, and to try a public records request.
A VillaWoods resident (adjacent to Will Rogers State Park) told CTN that in the afternoon there were eight fire trucks and a water truck by Will Rogers Polo Fields. “I watched them leave at 3 p.m.” He said that it was also about the time that helicopters stopped landing on the polo field. When he asked why firetrucks were leaving, he was told “they had been called out.”
Around 4:30, he said he spoke to rangers who were watering down the meadow and their residences (cottages). “No one was at the Will Rogers home,” he said.
He then evacuated around 5 p.m. and drove west on Sunset through the Village, “The Alphabets were on fire,” he said He turned on Temescal and when he reached Pacific Coast Highway, “I’ve never seen so many fire trucks sitting in one place,” he said.
“I can’t believe firefighters pulled away from the Ranch House, they could have easily saved it,” the resident said.
Marty Greenstein, the Deputy Director of Communications for California State Parks, told CTN that the “last staff left the park around 5:25 p.m. on Jan. 7. The last team members used the emergency service road to exit since the fire had already consumed the park entrance.”
The Ca. State Park staff left Will Rogers around 5:25 p.m. on January 7. Photo: © California State Parks, all rights reserved.
Greenstein was told that a resident had reported that the barn’s sprinkler system was not working. But he said that the sprinklers/irrigation system are checked annually, usually in the spring.
There was retardant at the park, but Greenstein told CTN that if a building is soaked, as the ranch house was, a wet surface can potentially cause the retardant to slide or wash away before it can offer protection. Retardant was not used on the house, although several residents think they saw rangers using it on the cottages, which are still standing.
Two Park Ranger cottages survived the fire. Residents point to the pink on the house as retardant that was used to save the small residences.
Biswas said the park staff at the house on January 7 were not firefighters but were primarily focused on preservation of the historic ranch house, including more than 150 priceless artifacts: Will Rogers’ typewriter, artwork and family heirlooms. Items were removed according to an artifact evacuation plan, which is in place and used by staff.
Will Rogers ranch house, built in about 1926 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The home was described as California rustic style with wide overhanging eaves and simple exterior trim and ornamentation.
The 31-room ranch house, which included 11 baths and seven fireplaces, was the home of Will, wife Betty and their three children Will Jr. Mary and James. The home was renovated in 2002-2006 and upgrades included seismic safety work, replacement of electrical systems and installation of a new heating and air conditioning system. In 2006, it was reopened to visitors.
Biswas said, “State Parks remains committed to the recovery of Will Rogers State Historic Park and the Pacific Palisades so it can once again serve the public and the community.”
Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, great-granddaughter of Will Rogers, said. “This is an extremely sensitive issue for the Rogers family. We are working closely with the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and CA State Parks on the future of the ranch which at this time is unknown.”
A private and public partnership between the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation, which Rogers-Etcheverry co-founded in 2008, and the state kept the 186-acre park operating.
After the Palisades Fire, the lower parking lot of the Will Rogers Polo Field were used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to recycle metal, cement and vegetation. The operation is complete and temporary facilities are being installed to serve the public and staff.
Biswas said that an announcement regarding the park reopening will be distributed in the coming weeks. Individuals interested in contributing to the recovery planning at the park are encouraged to visit: https://form.jotform.com/251675116900151.
A Villa Woods resident watched the flames at the Will Rogers State Historical Park from near the Riviera Golf course.
Cal Fire Sent the map to CTN show which departments are responsible for direct protection.
Great work investigating the loss of this Pacific Palisades treasure. So many questions. So few answers. Will we ever know what happened to allow this failure? I guess the safest place for the artifacts would have been the rangers’ cottages. It remains a mystery that 44 homes, the barn, the visitors center and the ranch house all burned but these two small cottages survived.
This is one of the most shocking stories I’ve heard about the fire and has me shaking with anger. The park, the lawns, the trails, the trees, the house, the barn, the legacy and the horses were collectively one of the most endearing and defining components of the Palisades for my family. We were there many times each week and ache about its loss. Will anyone be held accountable?
I drove a final time from the Village to a friend’s house on Sunset beyond the fire perimeter on January 7 at 11:30 pm. I noticed the hill above Sunset at Will Rogers State Park Road was starting to burn but the road was still completely accessible. I drove another two miles to Allenford and was stunned to see six LAFD firetrucks parked there, with the firemen standing around with their coffee thermos and joking, doing nothing. Those same six fire trucks were parked there when I returned the next morning with my press pass. It’s infuriating to think that anyone could believe that standing around doing nothing with their $1.2 million fire rigs was an option that night. At the very least they could have been up there with fire blankets or filled up their engines from Encino Reservoir 20 minutes away. The LAFD still refused to release their call logs for January 7-1o. I hope there will be hell to pay when everyone learns just how much the rank and file were screwing around rather than doing the easy job of saving blocks that private contractors were doing for them. “But Mayor Bass was in Africa!” doesn’t cut it anymore as an excuse for our First Responders to be sitting on their butts for three days rather than using simple judgement. We can replace so much of the Palisades but never the Will Rogers house which was one of our biggest historical touchstones and the simplest structure to have saved with minimal effort from any of those six crews sitting on their butts down the road for three days.
So many of us have been disturbed, rattled, maimed by the loss of Will’s place.
Fire trucks should have protected his home.
The property reverts back to the family if the state does not take care of it.
The state did not take care. Jennifer, reclaim you great grandfather’s home.
Another great article. I know 69 had moved a truck and ladder (not fire truck as theirs were in Highlands) to Will Rogers for safety when it seemed like it’d be a Highlands fire, then moved it. Not sure about the others but between radio and rules to submit arrival on scene, I’m sure LAFD could get that information together if forced. But then, I sent video of engines 23 arriving on scene 7 minutes before officially reported time. Their tablets run on Verizon network which doesn’t have great connectivity in Highlands and didn’t register their arrival. Still then, facts that benefited LAFD and would have been a comfort to Palisadians in knowing 23/69 arrived in lightning speed were ignored by LAFD. If they’re not going to work on facts that benefit their interests and support their local engine companies, I don’t suppose we can expect much when facts may not benefit central command.
But if Will Rogers is on state parkland and was given to the state, then all eyes should be on park rangers and CalFire for questions. Possible LACounty fire. In this case, LAFD would be the last entity I’d expect to account. The State had an affirmative obligation to have a plan in place to protect this land and execute it. That it seems the park rangers executed it for their own cottages but not the house…I’d be the member of the Rogers family leading the charge and holding the state accountable.
I visited Will Rogers State Park for the last time in August 2024 on Family Day. We watched polo matches and toured the house & museum on a beautiful day. Will is famous for his humorous quotes aimed at politicians. Here’s one for today: “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts”. Thanks to Sue & Circling The News for reporting the facts, and throwing in the occasional bit of sarcastic humor that I think would make Will smile. I hope Jennifer and the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation find a way forward after the devastating fire.
In 1978 I watched as 2 helicopters took turns going back and forth from the 0cean to Will Rogers state park dropping water wherever they could to hopefully save the home.
It went on all night and by early morning they left and the Park was saved. The wind direction had changed too, going up the “mountain” and to the west eventually burning homes and St. Matthews church. Where did I watch it from? From my home across the canyon in the Alphabet street area. . If they did it once, with less man power, they certainly could have done it in 2025! Sadly my home became a victim too this time, due to no fire trucks anywhere near, not one siren to be heard. My son and I left the area about 4:45 – the area was quiet, no traffic, except the red sky could be seen up on the hill.
While I appreciate this article casting light on the issue, it did get a few things wrong in an attempt to try to place blame. The caption on the photo of the park residence states “Two Park Ranger cottages survived the fire. Residents point to the pink on the house as retardant that was used to save the small residences.”. The red/pink bubbling is from the heat, not from the flame retardant. Unfortunately, the local resident quoted here was not familiar with the product ThermoGel which is used to protect homes. This material comes out as a white foam that is mixed with water and dries as a clear crust. Having formerly worked at Will Rogers and having seen park staff practice with the material, I know the product they use. The paint on these buildings are really old and discolors a different color when exposed to intense heat. The staff practiced fire drills and cut down the plants behind the building to reduce fire risk.
During the fire, I was listening to the LA fire department radio frequency and and a unit was fighting the fire in the Palisades and they were told to go to Will Rogers and to check the status of the building and protect it. The radio operator started arguing with the fire dispatcher and asked what makes Will Rogers more important than the fires they are currently fighting. He did not end up going to Will Rogers. It broke my heart to hear him argue with the dispatcher knowing how many priceless artifacts were in that building and how irreplaceable those artifacts and the building is. Although State Parks had in place a fire plan, LA Fire did not provide the support that was needed to save the building.
It’s a shame this article, falsely informed by an anonymous neighbor, spreads inflammatory information about the park. The article says park rangers remained at the Park until 525pm and includes a picture from past 5pm, but at the same time cites an anonymous neighbor claiming park staff left by 330pm. Which is it and what’s the motive of the author/anonymous neighbor?
Is Circling the News a legit news reporting organization or a gossip magazine for Karens in the Palisades? I’m heading over to the Palisadian Post for my local news.
If I’m not mistaken, the Will Rogers house and barn were built from wood. The sad reality is that the fire has destroyed many homes here in the Palisades, while leaving others standing. It’s disgusting and shameful to see people pointing fingers at each other during such a tragedy. This was an act of nature, and instead of blame, we should be coming together as a community
If I’m not mistaken, the Will Rogers house and barn were built from wood and was built in the 1920’s. The sad reality is that the fire has destroyed many homes here in the Palisades, while leaving others standing. It’s disgusting and shameful to see people pointing fingers at each other during such a tragedy. This was an act of nature, and instead of blame, we should be coming together as a community.
Thank you for sharing this important update and I’m grateful the rangers were able to rescue so much from the park before it burned down. It could have been really bad but I heard everyone was evacuated safely, including the horses.
However, I must ask, why does Sue Pascoe continue to use her powers as moderator to reject comments that are critical of her reporting? This article is inflammatory and based entirely on the testimony of an “anonymous neighbor” and includes numerous conflicting statements:
– The article shows pictures of park employees in the ranch house while simultaneously saying that an anonymous neighbor saw “no one at the ranch house”. Which is it?
– The article shows a picture of burnt, pink-colored paint and purports that it is fire gel because “neighbors believe its fire gel”. Sue didn’t bother to research that fire gel applies as a whitish/clear substance and fact check the anonymous neighbor’s accusations.
– The article actually quotes a neighbor saying they “think” something happened, but were not entirely sure. LOL I have never seen a reporter quote somebody who was not sure if their own statement is true.
Does Sue’s personal relationships with Villa Woods residents impact her ability to objectively report news in the Palisades? Is Circling the News a legit news organization or a gossip website for Sue and her friends?
Will this comment also be moderated out? At least this time I will take a screen shot so I can share with the local news outlets who may be interested in learning about Sue’s censorship of free speech in the Palisades.
Dear Sunset Resident, who is also anonymous.
I feel sorry for you. I do have the names of the people who spoke to me. I offered them anonymity because so many people are nasty to one another and I didn’t want them going after my sources.
Sue
Dear Anonymous Sunset Resident,
You are not a subscriber on CTN. You have never paid for reading any of the content on this site. Please take your freeloading over to the other newspapers, where you will be required to pay. For example the newspaper you reference charges $99 annually.
Sue
It is such a shame that a pursuit of well-deserved answers is met with disparagement and disrespect. I thought the article regarding the loss of Will Rogers State Historic Park on January 7th was well researched and well written. The fact that is does not conclude all the answers at this stage is hardly the fault of the writer or the eye-witnesses who shared their observations. What chance do we stand of ever learning what happened when attempts at investigation are met with such anonymous venom? I’m sorry to say, but once the After Action Report is released there may be lot of information concerning the fire we dislike or disagree with. Will this be the response?
Who was responsible? “Not me” said every local and state politician and public employee.
You’re all missing the real reason that the ranch house was left to burn. Will Rogers and the park are a touchstone to the “old days” of mostly white settlement in SoCal. This needed to be eliminated since it doesn’t conform to the current political and cultural environment in the area. You can expect more of the same in the future.
Will Rogers was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma).