New Altadena Fire Report Raises “More Questions Than Answers”

October 8, 2025

The McChrystal Group's 132-page After-Action Review examining emergency response during the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles County has provoked strong reactions from Altadena residents and officials. Released on September 25 and presented to the LA County Board of Supervisors on September 30, the report identified "compounding weaknesses" in emergency systems rather than a single point of failure, highlighting issues like delayed evacuation warnings, poor infrastructure, and inadequate communication systems. Altadena residents, particularly from the predominantly Black community, claim they received less urgent emergency response compared to the Palisades area, with many survivors and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressing frustration that the report raises more questions than it answers.

Who is affected

Eaton Fire victims in Altadena, particularly residents in areas "west of Lake"
Black residents of Altadena who reportedly received less urgent response
Neighbors who died during the fire, as mentioned by Kara Vallow
Residents of the Palisades area (who received different treatment compared to Altadena)
Licensed marriage and family therapist Eshele Williams and other fire victims whose homes burned
Los Angeles County residents dependent on emergency response systems

What action is being taken

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is accepting the recommendations from the McChrystal Group's report
Governor Gavin Newsom's office is conducting its own investigation into the fires
Altadena for Accountability, a coalition providing mutual aid for fire survivors, is presenting collective responses to the report
Fire victims and advocates are calling for Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate the situation
The Board of Supervisors is discussing the need to revisit the report

Why it matters

The report revealed "compounding weaknesses in systems, policies, and procedures" that created "fundamental gaps in effectiveness and evacuations" during a life-threatening emergency
There appear to be disparities in emergency response between Altadena (with a significant Black population) and the Palisades area, raising equity concerns
Critical emergency communication systems failed when power lines and cell towers burned, leaving residents vulnerable
The investigation points to potential systemic issues in how Los Angeles County responds to disasters across different communities
Historical redlining and discriminatory lending practices may have contributed to the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities in Altadena

What's next

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will work on implementing the recommendations from the report
Governor Newsom's investigation will continue, potentially offering additional findings
Fire victims and advocates are awaiting a potential investigation by Attorney General Rob Bonta
The Board may revisit the report to address unanswered questions and community concerns

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint