Firm finds LA county officials did not discriminate in response to Eaton fire
Summary
A review by the firm Citygate Associates found that Los Angeles county fire officials did not discriminate by race or economic status nor delay evacuation orders during the deadly Eaton fire in Altadena in January 2025. The firm’s report detailed challenges faced due to the fire’s unusual behavior and limited resources during simultaneous fires.Key Facts
- The Eaton fire started on January 7, 2025, destroying over 9,000 buildings and killing 19 people.
- Citygate Associates was hired by Los Angeles county and its fire department to investigate evacuation alerts during the fire.
- The report found no evidence that race or socioeconomic status affected how evacuation orders were given.
- Evacuation zones were based on major roads like Lake Avenue to organize the response.
- Firefighting efforts were complicated by strong winds grounding aircraft and another large fire at Pacific Palisades on the same day.
- Some residents in west Altadena, a historically African American and middle-class area, claimed they were evacuated later than those in east Altadena, prompting a civil rights investigation by California’s attorney general.
- An advocacy group critical of the report argued that it relied too much on officials and not enough on residents’ experiences.
- Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated the focus is now on learning from the fire to improve future emergency responses.
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