Skull Rock just north of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades has long attracted hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
A relatively short hike along the Temescal Ridge Trail reveals the skeleton-shaped Skull Rock and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Now, the area is under investigation as the Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of structures last week.
It is unclear where the fire started and the cause is under investigation.
A small fire broke out across the area on New Year's Eve, burning for several hours and fire officials said they put it out with the help of a water-dropping helicopter.
Sources familiar with the investigation told The Times that officials were aware of the earlier fire and that it was roughly within striking distance of the Palisades fire. They are investigating whether this is the cause. Because the area is frequented by the public, sources said a new fire may have somehow been started there on January 7.
Officials said the earlier fire appeared to have been started by fireworks.
As for the Palisades fire, sources said it appears to be of human origin, but the investigation is ongoing. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
A relatively short hike along the Temescal Ridge trail leads to the skull-shaped Skull Rock.
(Matt Parlick)
Around 8:15 a.m. on the day of the Palisades fire, Darrin Hurwitz drove his children to the area for a hike after dropping off his children at school.
He circled five miles, climbed to the top of Skull Rock, and looked at the burn scars from the New Year's Eve fire.
"Around the same time, I noticed a smell of smoke. I didn't do much. I thought it was either coming from somewhere else or remnants of the fire itself," he told The Times.
He recently went on another hike in Malibu, where the Franklin Fire burned a few weeks ago, and noticed a "light smell of ash." But he said the smell was stronger near Skull Rock that day and he wondered if the wind was blowing up the ash.
He later learned that one of his neighbors also smelled smoke.
"This happened about an hour before the fire," he said. "Now, what all this means, I don't know. Are there some embers left unquenched, rustling in the wind?"
The fire was first reported about an hour later at the Piedra Morada Drive address where Nic Libonati's family lives. Libonatti confirmed in an interview with The Times last week that he was the first to call 911 and went to alert neighbors about the fire.
He said when Libonati and his sister first discovered the fire, it was about two miles from their home. But when he tried to hose down the plants, the wind blew the water back into his face, and he knew they were in trouble. Libonati realized the flames were coming in their direction.
Nick Libonati took this photo of the Palisade fire on the deck of his home on Piedra Morada Drive in Pacific Palisades .
(Nick Libonati)
Professional team from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Work on the scene began on Monday.
Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said no cause has been ruled out for the Palisades fire: "It has not been definitively determined to be arson, but we are investigating from all angles."
Law enforcement sources said there were charred utility poles nearby, but it was unclear where they started.
If it turns out the Palisades Fire was caused by the reignition of a previous fire, it would fit a pattern.
A 1991 fire in the Oakland Hills destroyed more than 2,500 structures, but blazed again after firefighters thought they had the blaze under control. The fire initially covered six acres and was declared contained but has not yet been extinguished. Firefighters left equipment at the scene but did not monitor it at all times. The wind picked up and the flames quickly destroyed the house.
The damage from the Palisades Fire extended to trails and rock formations.
The Times ranked Skull Rock among the top hikes in Southern California and described it this way: “As you climb up the Temescal Ridge Trail, enjoy panoramic vistas stretching from Santa Monica to the Channel Islands Enjoy shaded switchbacks beneath oak trees and coastal jungle slopes on a clear day. Skull Rock and its boulder companions are the midpoint of your geological journey and a great spot for a rock-climbing picnic.”
Hurwitz hikes the trails near his home at least three times a week.
“That trail is spectacular,” Hurwitz said. "It's just a little bit of everything. It's just such a great view. It's definitely one of the most popular trails in Los Angeles and people drive from all over the city to hike it."