California Launches Investigation into Delayed Evacuation Orders During Deadly LA-Area Wildfire

Attorney General cites concerns over potential race, disability, or age-based discrimination in emergency response.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation into how delayed evacuation orders impacted a historically Black community ravaged by the deadly Eaton Fire near Los Angeles in 2025. The investigation will focus on the LA County Fire Department's emergency response systems, which failed to issue timely evacuation warnings to the west side of Altadena as homes were already burning.

Why it matters

The Eaton Fire killed 19 people, with all but one of the fatalities occurring in the west side of Altadena, which received evacuation orders hours later than the east side of town. This raises concerns about potential discrimination in the emergency response based on race, disability, or age of residents in the affected community.

The details

Bonta said the investigation was spurred by conversations with community members and fire survivors who were concerned about the disparate impact on west Altadena. The overarching question is whether 'unlawful race, disability, or age-based discrimination in the emergency response result in a delayed evacuation notification that disproportionately impacted west Altadena.' The investigation will primarily focus on the LA County Fire Department and whether their existing systems contributed to the delayed evacuation notices.

  • The Eaton Fire broke out on January 7, 2025.
  • By midnight, roughly six hours after the fire sparked, none of the neighborhoods west of Altadena's North Lake Avenue had been issued an evacuation warning.
  • Evacuation orders expanded significantly after 3 a.m.

The players

Rob Bonta

California's Attorney General who announced the civil rights investigation.

Altadena for Accountability

A group of fire survivors that campaigned for an investigation into the county's fire response over the past year.

Gina Clayton-Johnson

A fire survivor who said losing her home and her parents' home was devastating, but is heartened that there is now a pathway to answers and accountability.

LA County Fire Department

The department that will be the primary focus of the investigation into whether their emergency response systems contributed to the delayed evacuation notices.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The families forever changed because of the Eaton Fire deserve nothing less than our full commitment.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General (kcra.com)

“Losing my home and seeing my parents lose theirs was devastating. I'm heartened today knowing that we have a real pathway to answers and accountability for what went wrong.”

— Gina Clayton-Johnson, Fire survivor (kcra.com)

What’s next

The investigation will primarily focus on the LA County Fire Department and whether their existing systems contributed to the delayed evacuation notices. Bonta expects officials to voluntarily comply in sharing information with investigators.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of equitable emergency response systems that ensure timely evacuation orders reach all members of a community, regardless of race, disability, or age. The investigation will aim to uncover any potential discrimination that may have led to the disproportionate impact on the historically Black west Altadena neighborhood.