The County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) today released the findings of the independent investigation conducted by Citygate Associates, LLC (Citygate) examining evacuation decisions, incident communications, and fire behavior during the critical overnight hours of the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

The review analyzed operational conditions and decision-making between 9:00 p.m. on January 7, 2025, and 6:00 a.m. on January 8, 2025.  Based on interviews, operational records, dispatch information, and incident communications, the investigation concluded that Unified Command acted appropriately amidst unprecedented fire and weather conditions that grounded aircraft, leaving them without aerial surveillance to track the spread of the Eaton Fire in real-time.

The investigation did not identify misconduct or delay in evacuation decision-making related to areas west of Lake Avenue.

Statement from Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone:

“The Altadena community deserves transparency, which is why I initiated this independent investigation,” said Fire Chief Marrone.  “While the report provides an honest account of our operations, we recognize that no investigation can truly capture the horror and tragedy residents endured.  My focus is to ensure that the lessons learned from the Eaton and Palisades Fires are turned into lasting changes that will better protect our residents and neighborhoods into the future.”

Key Insights from the Report’s 23 Findings:

• Evacuation Orders Were Not Delayed:  Absent real-time aerial fire spread intelligence, Unified Command employed strategies and tactics that had been successful in the past. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued ahead of the fire front and remained effective until 2:18 a.m.  At which point, Unified Command immediately initiated action to issue subsequent evacuation orders and warnings.  The evacuation orders for west of Lake Avenue were not delayed by Unified Command.

• No Evidence of Bias in Evacuation Decisions:  Citygate’s review of Unified Command found no evidence of bias in evacuation decisions.  Unified Command appropriately prioritized seniors and the disabled for evacuations and rescues.  For example, resources were appropriately assigned to perform rescues and structure protection of assisted living centers and group homes.

• Evacuation Orders Were Issued Before the Fire Crossed West of Lake Avenue:  The main fire front crossed west of Lake Avenue into the area between Concha Street and East Las Flores Drive, at around
  5:13 a.m.  Evacuation orders for areas west of Lake had already been issued at 3:25 a.m.

• Clarifying Communications:  Previous reports implying the 11:24 p.m. communications were regarding expansion of evacuations in Altadena all the way west to La Cañada could not be verified.  A newly identified text confirmed those communications were focused on deteriorating conditions in Sierra Madre, not Altadena, and referenced two Sierra Madre Genasys Zones already under evacuation orders at 11:08 p.m.

• Extreme Fire Behavior:  The Eaton Fire evolved into a two-front fire.  On the western side, extreme conditions aligned – steep slopes, historic winds, and street/canyon alignment caused the fire to explode into older, densely built neighborhoods where stopping the fire spread was impossible.

Acknowledging Community Concerns:

The LACoFD recognizes the significant impact the Eaton Fire had on residents and understands that some community members may still have questions about evacuation timing and emergency communications.  The Department remains committed to transparency and supports ongoing after‑action reviews and independent investigations of the overall emergency response.

LACoFD Actions and Improvements:

The LACoFD accepts Citygate’s findings and recommendations, including continued implementation of prior after-action review items and developing alternative intelligence processes when aircraft cannot fly.  The Department has since integrated new technologies into Tablet Command, implemented FireGuard, initiated procurement of a new 911 Computer Aided Dispatch system, and is piloting OroraTech to provide real time satellite imagery to detect and track wildfires, including ember cast, especially when aircraft are grounded.  Additionally, the LACoFD supports assigning a dedicated technical specialist responsible for incident intelligence during challenging fires.

The Department remains committed to ongoing after-action reviews and investigations related to the Eaton and Palisades Fires, which together caused 31 deaths and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.

To view a full copy of the report, please click here.