LOS ANGELES (AP) — An outside review of Los Angeles County's response to January's deadly wildfires found significant issues that contributed to delays in alerting residents for evacuation. The report by the McChrystal Group, commissioned by county supervisors after the tragic events, identified a lack of resources and outdated policies as primary failures.
The report highlights that many residents did not receive timely emergency alerts, even as flames engulfed neighborhoods in areas like Altadena and Pacific Palisades, resulting in the loss of more than 30 lives and extensive property damage.
Critical staffing shortages, particularly in the sheriff's department and the Office of Emergency Management, were noted, along with unreliable communications that hampered real-time information sharing among responders. Overall, the report calls for improved policies, training, integrated tools, and clearer public messaging to enhance emergency response effectiveness.
County officials plan to discuss the findings of the 133-page report at an upcoming Supervisors meeting, emphasizing a commitment to better prepare for future emergencies while the causes of the fires remain under investigation.
