LOS ANGELES - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a formal investigation into the emergency response to the 2025 Eaton Fire, specifically focusing on whether racial, age, or disability discrimination played a role in the devastation experienced by the West Altadena community.
The investigation, announced by the California Department of Justice, will examine the emergency preparations and response in West Altadena, a historically Black neighborhood that bore the brunt of the fire's destruction. At least 19 people lost their lives, and over 9,000 buildings were destroyed in the blaze, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in California history. The average age of those who died was 77, according to the Attorney General's office.
"Today, the California Department of Justice formally announces an investigation into the emergency response during the 2025 Eaton Fire," Bonta stated. "My office will be investigating whether there was race, age, or disability discrimination in the emergency response in West Altadena, which claimed the lives of at least 19 people. Specifically, we'll be looking at whether the systems and structures at play contributed to a delay in the County's evacuation notice and possible disparities in emergency response in West Altadena."
The probe was prompted by concerns raised by West Altadena residents who allege they received evacuation warnings hours later than other areas, contributing to the disproportionately high number of deaths and widespread damage in their community. Residents have repeatedly asked for answers regarding the perceived failures in the fire response.
The concerns were publicly highlighted during the Rose Parade in Pasadena earlier this year when two fire survivors unfurled a sign calling for an investigation by Attorney General Bonta. A parade worker quickly removed the sign, but the message resonated with many who have been questioning the handling of the disaster.
"It is shameful that we have not yet seen any kind of serious undertaking of righting the wrongs that were committed in this fire," said Gina Clayton-Johnson, a lifelong resident, according to reporting from January.
The investigation will specifically look into whether delays in evacuation notices and disparities in emergency response contributed to the disproportionate impact on West Altadena. Residents have questioned why there were reportedly fewer fire trucks deployed to their neighborhood compared to other parts of Altadena.
The move follows an "Independent After-Action Report" by the McChrystal Group, which identified systemic failures in emergency notification and evacuation procedures. However, community members have criticized the report, claiming it failed to adequately address key questions regarding evacuation notifications, the presence of firefighters in West Altadena, and breakdowns in communication between the sheriff and fire departments.
Altadena for Accountability, a community group formed in the wake of the fire, had previously urged Bonta to investigate Los Angeles County's response, calling for the Attorney General to "compel testimony, examine withheld data and records and hold public agencies accountable for their failures before, during and after the fire."
The Attorney General's office acknowledged receiving "compelling evidence" from the West Altadena community, stating that evacuation warnings for the historically Black neighborhood came "many hours after these same warnings were sent to the rest of Altadena."
The investigation comes as residents continue to grapple with the aftermath of the fire and demand accountability for what they perceive as systemic failures in the emergency response. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for future disaster preparedness and response efforts in California.