Federal Probe Underway as LA Wildfire Death Toll Hits 24 Amid Rising Speculation

LOS ANGELES — A massive federal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the deadly wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles, leaving at least 24 dead and entire neighborhoods destroyed.

Social media has exploded with theories, ranging from downed power lines to arson, stray fireworks, and even the reignition of an earlier blaze. However, Jose Medina of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), leading the inquiry, cautioned that it's too early to draw conclusions.

“We know the community deserves answers, and ATF will provide them after a thorough investigation,” Medina said. The probe involves 75 people, including fire investigators, chemists, and sniffer dogs, with plans to gather clues from the local community and online.

Speculation grew after a video showed trail runners fleeing smoke near Pacific Palisades. However, one of the men involved, Beni Oren, refuted claims, saying they were merely escaping danger.

Meanwhile, local homeowners in Altadena are suing Southern California Edison, suspecting the power company’s equipment may be linked to the fires after a video showed flames near a transmission tower. The utility has denied fault.