Saturday, September 27, 2025

Altadena Fire Failures to Be Reviewed by L.A. County Supervisors Tuesday Following Release of After-Action Report

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will review findings Tuesday from a county-commissioned report detailing emergency alert and evacuation failures during January’s Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 properties across Altadena, Pacific Palisades and nearby communities.

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles. The report will be discussed as a set item at 9:45 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room.

The “Independent After-Action Report,” released Thursday by the Board and authored by the McChrystal Group, found that outdated policies, staffing shortages and fragmented communication protocols hindered emergency response. In Altadena, nighttime fire conditions, limited situational awareness tools and power outages contributed to chaotic evacuations and left many residents with little or no warning.

The report identified no single point of failure but cited systemic vulnerabilities, including unclear evacuation authority and incomplete alert messaging. Some Altadena residents evacuated based on neighbor warnings rather than official guidance, encountering blocked roads and minimal support from emergency personnel.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she will introduce a motion to implement the report’s recommendations, which include improved staffing and upgraded technology at the county’s Office of Emergency Management. Sheriff Robert Luna called the review “a vital tool” for strengthening future response.

Other officials scheduled to participate in Tuesday’s discussion include Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan, and McChrystal Group Partner Shawn Tyrie, who also serves as the firm’s Government President.

The full report is available on the Los Angeles County website.