2545 Santa Anita in Altadena (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
A Los Angeles Times report revealed significant delays in evacuation orders for Western Altadena, where all 17 confirmed fatalities from the Eaton Fire come from.
By News Desk
In response to these findings, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) issued a statement on Wednesday, January 22, expressing deep concern over the delayed evacuation efforts. “I’m dismayed and deeply concerned that evacuation warnings and orders were significantly delayed for residents in western Altadena, west of Lake Avenue, at the start of the Eaton Fire,” Chu said.
The Eaton Fire, which is part of a broader wave of devastating wildfires across Los Angeles County, has already destroyed over 7,000 structures, displaced 20,000 people, and claimed at least 17 lives—all of them from the affected area west of Lake Avenue. Chu emphasized the urgency of addressing the situation, highlighting the fire’s catastrophic toll.
“This is on track to become one of the most costly and devastating natural disasters in our country’s history,” Chu added. “We owe it to the victims, survivors, and their families to ensure that these evacuation notification delays and failures are not repeated.”
In her statement, Chu called on Los Angeles County emergency officials to launch an immediate, independent investigation into the handling of the evacuation process. She urged officials to examine the timeline of alerts, the coordination between agencies, and identify changes needed to prevent future delays.
“Transparency and accountability are critical so that every community is treated equitably in future emergencies,” Chu concluded, stressing the need for stronger systems to safeguard lives in future wildfires.
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