AG Bonta Announces Investigation into Eaton Fire Emergency Response in West Altadena

Probe to examine potential race, age, or disability discrimination in emergency preparations and response

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta has formally announced an investigation by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) into the emergency response to the 2025 Eaton Fire, which claimed the lives of at least 19 people in the historically Black community of West Altadena. The DOJ's Civil Rights Enforcement Section will lead the investigation to determine if there were any violations of civil rights laws in the emergency preparations and response.

Why it matters

The Eaton Fire was one of the deadliest in California history, with the average victim being 77 years old. The West Altadena community has raised concerns about potential disparities in the emergency response, including evacuation warnings coming much later for their historically Black neighborhood compared to the rest of Altadena. This investigation aims to uncover the facts and determine if systemic issues contributed to the tragic loss of life.

The details

Attorney General Bonta stated that the DOJ investigation will specifically look at whether there was race, age, or disability discrimination in the emergency response in West Altadena. The investigation will examine the systems and structures that may have led to delayed evacuation notices and potential disparities in the emergency response for the West Altadena community.

  • The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres and occurred in 2025.
  • The investigation was formally announced on February 12, 2026.

The players

Rob Bonta

The Attorney General of California who announced the DOJ investigation.

California Department of Justice

The state agency that will be leading the investigation into the emergency response to the Eaton Fire.

West Altadena

The historically Black community in Altadena, California that was impacted by the Eaton Fire and has raised concerns about the emergency response.

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What they’re saying

“Today, the California Department of Justice formally announces an investigation into the emergency response during the 2025 Eaton Fire. 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.”

— Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California (yubanet.com)

What’s next

The DOJ's investigation will focus on potential violations of civil rights laws, and no further updates can be provided at this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights the critical need to ensure equitable emergency preparedness and response, especially in historically marginalized communities. The findings could lead to important reforms to prevent such tragedies from happening again.