An independent review found that Los Angeles County’s response to January’s devastating wildfires was marred by issues with alert and evacuation protocols.
The review, conducted by consulting firm McChrystal Group and commissioned by county supervisors, found that “a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices, and communications vulnerabilities,” led to an ineffective response to the Palisades and Eaton fires.
The wildfires, over three weeks, burned 37,000 acres, destroyed 16,251 buildings and resulted in 31 deaths. Together, they were the most destructive wildfires in the county’s history.
The 133-page report outlined five areas of improvement for the county: evacuation protocols, emergency response training, resource management, coordination across different county agencies and community engagement.
It noted that the speed of alerts and evacuations was hindered by communication failures stemming from “unreliable cellular connectivity, inconsistent field reporting methods, and the use of various unconnected platforms.”
To remedy the issue, the report recommended the county restructure its Office of Emergency Management, boost staffing and establish an organized emergency response training program for law enforcement officials.
This training, the report said, should specifically address coordination among multiple cities and fire departments to ensure proper communication. It should also focus “on areas that were previously not typically considered vulnerable to wildfire.”
Prior to January, the last wildfire in the Altadena area — where the Eaton fire primarily impacted — was more than three decades ago. The Pacific Palisades area, on the other hand, saw an elevated “level of collaboration and preparedness” in its emergency response due to what the report outlined as a long-term partnership between the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s Department.
The report also stressed the need for prior communication to the public on sources of information during a crisis. It also called for the county to establish a joint information center quicker during future wildfires. A countywide joint information center was not created until Jan. 9, two days after the wildfires began.
“A cohesive framework for public outreach and education that is built in collaboration with local and state partner agencies will strengthen resilience and bolster the County’s ability to response effectively to emergencies,” the report said.
In a statement, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said the report “isn’t about pointing fingers” but instead to get a clear picture of how emergency response was handled during the crisis.
“It’s about learning lessons, improving safety, and restoring public trust,” added Barger, whose jurisdiction includes Altadena. “My commitment is straightforward: we will take these findings and turn them into action so our communities are better protected in the future.”
County supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose jurisdiction includes Pacific Palisades, called the report “a critical step toward accountability” in the same statement.
“This report is only as strong as the action that follows,” Horvath noted. “As climate-driven disasters accelerate, we must stay focused on education and prevention, training, and community partnerships that make us truly prepared.”
The city of Los Angeles will release its own after-action report on its wildfire response, as required by state regulations, Mayor Karen Bass (D) said in a release last month.
A spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told The Hill that the state commissioned the Fire Safety Research Institute to conduct a review of the wildfires.
“Phase one of that report will be released in the coming weeks to ensure Californians have a full and transparent accounting of what happened and how we can build a stronger system moving forward,” the spokesperson added.