The U.S. Forest Service will conduct an interagency review of suppression efforts used during the massive Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California, according to a statement the agency released yesterday. The public and decision-makers have questioned the firefighting tactics, as more controversy brews about the cause of the fire — now being called an “ongoing arson and homicide investigation,” according to a L.A. County Sheriff's Department spokesperson.

"With the significant loss of life, and impacts to the local community, we must determine the effectiveness of our efforts, including how decisions were made and how fire behavior prediction models helped guide our suppression strategies," said Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell in the statement. "We owe it to the local communities, county and state and all who suffered losses to learn as much as we can.”

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Angeles Forest fire commanders were confident during the first day battling the Station Fire that the fire was contained to 15 acres, so they only used three helicopters to battle the blaze. In addition, they also reduced ground forces. The Forest Service soon learned that resources deployed fell short, according to the Times report. Instead, the Station Fire burned 160,577 acres, destroyed 89 structures and killed two county firefighters. Suppression costs reached $93 million and agencies assigned 5,244 firefighters at the fire’s peak, according to the Forest Service.

"Our highest priority is firefighter and public safety, and the efforts by firefighters to achieve this were outstanding during this event and deserve to be recognized," Tidwell said. "Reviewing our firefighting efforts is part of our normal process; however, due to the unprecedented size of the Station Fire and questions being raised about firefighting actions, I am directing a review of the Station Fire, and seeking the participation of our key interagency partners”

The Forest Service, CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are staying closed-lipped on the internal investigation. Forest Service spokesperson Joe Walsh was unable to provide details, other than to say “I can’t comment further than what the press release said,” he noted. “That’s why it was issued.”