The burn area from the New Year’s Eve fire is at the top right and is shown in proximity to the Palisades Highlands. Notice the miles and miles of unburned brush in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Photo: GARY BAUM
This is the same area that the Palisades Fire started. Notice all of the brush around the burn area.
Photo: GARY BAUM
Gary Baum, a resident, who is certified with the FAA sUAS to fly drones, did an eerie, heart-breaking view of the Palisades, which he allowed Circling the News to publish.
Then, this editor asked him if he had also taken shots of the New Year’s Eve Burn area (the Lochman Fire).
He responded “I do have footage taken after the fire was extinguished. Since I live nearby, I flew my drone later that afternoon—only after confirming there were no flight restrictions. Based on what I observed, I am convinced the fire was never fully out and was likely reignited by high winds a few days later.”
On February 7, Baum flew over Hi Point (Goat Peak) in the Palisades after the rain and noticed smoke or steam still rising from the upper ridges.
He wrote, “If the Palisades Fire was declared fully contained on January 31, yet these hotspots persisted for a week—even after the rain—it strongly suggests that the January 1st fire also continued smoldering in a similar way.”
All images are the exclusive property of and copyrighted by Gary Baum. Any use, reproduction, or distribution without express written permission is strictly prohibited.
For more information or to request permission for use, please contact Baum directly:
Gary Baum
8540 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1012
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-600-2764
Email: gbaum@paintballphotography.com
Gary – Your images of the fires and the cleanup operations have created such clarity in the patterns of fire in the Palisades.
I want to thank you for each of them,
Ann Smith