ATF hones in on new theory as to what ignited massive California wildfire: report

Federal authorities were reportedly looking at a new theory as to what may have ignited one of several massive wildfires in California.

NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz spoke with MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace on Monday about the latest reporting into the California wildfires, which have left at least two dozen dead and scorched more than 38,000 acres.

Kreutz told Wallace that while wildfire investigations can take weeks or months — or even a year — to determine the exact cause of a blaze, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, are in the Los Angeles area trying to do just that.

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And they may have a lead.

"They're not ruling anything out but their line of investigation is going towards that it could be human-caused," said Kreutz. "Something that's indicating that is that there was actually a fire on New Year's Day in that exact same area where it's believed the Palisades Fire began. The thought is that maybe that fire was never fully put out and then when those winds came last week, it sort of re-ignited it. And that could potentially be what led to this fire."

Kreutz added investigators are looking into what caused that blaze, including fireworks or an encampment.

The Eaton Fire, she said, may have been a power issue, which has sparked other wildfires in the state, including the deadly Camp Fire.

Watch the clip below or at this link.