BREAKING: Los Angeles County supervisors have urgently criticized a recent report detailing failures during the January Eaton fire, calling the findings “inadequate” and “full of gaping holes.” The $1.9 million investigation has sparked intense backlash from residents who demand answers to a crucial question: Why were evacuation alerts issued so late?
During a heated board meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed her frustration, saying, “I’ve heard from many residents…who share that this report leads to more questions than answers.” This sentiment echoes the anger felt by the community after the fire claimed 19 lives, primarily in west Altadena, where alerts did not reach residents until hours after the flames threatened their homes.
The report, conducted by the McChrystal Group, highlighted significant failures in evacuation procedures, revealing that no single county department was accountable for alerting residents. The responsibility is split among the Office of Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Fire Department, leading to confusion and delays in communication.
Despite some recommendations for improvement, including clarifying evacuation responsibilities and increasing staffing for emergency management, supervisors are pushing back against the overall findings. Barger noted that many agencies, including the Pasadena Fire Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, did not participate in the investigation, raising questions about transparency. “It is inexcusable…what are you hiding?” Barger challenged.
Residents voiced their frustrations outside the meeting, demanding accountability and questioning the delay in issuing evacuation orders. Many felt their experiences, particularly those of Black and brown families in Altadena, were overlooked. Congresswoman Judy Chu stated that the report left “unresolved questions” regarding evacuation failures and timing.
The report indicated that evacuation orders for west Altadena were not issued until 3:25 a.m., despite reports of fire activity in the area as early as 2:18 a.m. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone acknowledged that the incident command took too long to validate evacuation requests, stating, “That took time — probably too much time in retrospect.”
Many residents are demanding further investigations into the response, with speakers at the board meeting calling for Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to conduct an independent review. Community members held signs displaying the names of fire victims and expressed disbelief at the reported timeline, with some claiming their homes were ablaze well before the official evacuation orders were issued.
“I ask again — who was in charge?” questioned Lauren Randolph, a resident affected by the fire. The report’s claim that the fire front did not reach west Altadena until 5 a.m. has been challenged by residents who experienced the fire’s impact earlier.
As the county grapples with the aftermath of the Eaton fire, supervisors unanimously approved a motion to begin implementing some of the report’s recommendations. However, many residents remain skeptical about the county’s ability to improve its emergency response moving forward.
The emotional toll of this disaster is palpable, with survivors voicing their frustrations and demanding more than just a report. The board’s discussion is far from over, and the community’s outcry will likely continue as they seek justice and answers in the wake of this tragic event.
As the situation develops, residents and officials alike are left to confront the urgent need for accountability and change in how emergencies are managed in Los Angeles County.