Los Angeles County officials are pushing for an independent investigation to scrutinize the emergency alert system used during the recent Eaton and Palisades Fires, which resulted in the tragic loss of at least 28 lives.
The initiative for an investigation stems from a report by the Los Angeles Times that revealed residents in western Altadena did not receive evacuation orders electronically until several hours after the Eaton Fire had already begun. This delay in alerting residents has raised serious concerns about the efficiency of the county's emergency response system and whether any of the fatalities could have been prevented.
County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey Horvath have put forth a motion to hire a consultant to review the evacuation protocols and emergency alert notification systems utilized during the Palisades and Eaton Fires. The motion also calls for a third-party assessment of the actions taken by the county sheriff's and fire departments, as well as the county's Office of Emergency Management.
One resident of Altadena, Vester Pittman, shared his experience of not receiving an evacuation alert and only realizing the danger when he saw the fire across the street at 2 a.m. Pittman and his grandson managed to escape in time, but his house was destroyed in the blaze.
County Supervisor Barger emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in emergency response efforts. She stated that the independent assessment would help the county be better prepared for future disasters and enable swift action to protect lives and property.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna expressed support for the scrutiny, highlighting the need to understand the details of what happened, how it happened, and why it happened in the aftermath of such incidents.
The county's fire department and emergency management office have been contacted for comments on the matter. The motion for the independent investigation will be presented before the county board of supervisors for further consideration next week.
