LA County releases after-action review of alert notification systems, evacuation policies for Eaton, Palisades fires – NBC Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors released an after-action report on Thursday on the Eaton and Palisades fires that urges improvements to the ways people are alerted, warned and evacuated in the event of wildfires like the two deadly blazes that devastated communities along the coast and in the foothills in January.

The “Independent After-Action Report” was commissioned by the supervisors and produced by McChrystal Group, a consulting firm led by retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal and followed “an independent after-action review of alerts and evacuations” that provided “a comprehensive picture of actions taken during the catastrophic January wildfires along with recommendations to help guide future Los Angeles County responses.”

McCrystal Group conducted interviews with 147 participants and hosted six community listening sessions to produce the after-action review. The review was not intended to investigate or assess blame, according to the release. 

McChrystal has also been selected to conduct a second comprehensive review of recovery and repopulation efforts after both fires, the release added.

According to a press release from the county, the review did not identify a “single point of failure” in the county’s efforts to warn and evacuate residents during the wildfires in early January.

Instead, the review found that a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” is what affected the county’s response, according to the release.    

“Survivors of the Eaton Fire deserve answers—and today’s report is an important step toward delivering them,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger.

Barger said she called for the independent review to “make sure we had a clear, fact-based look at how alerts, warnings, and evacuations were handled.”

“This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about learning lessons, improving safety, and restoring public trust. My commitment is straightforward: we will take these findings and turn them into action so our communities are better protected in the future,” Barger added.

“While frontline responders acted decisively and, in many cases, heroically, in the face of extraordinary conditions, the events underscored the need for clearer policies, stronger training, integrated tools and improved public communication,” the report said.

The wildfires killed 31 people and destroyed 16,251 properties in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, along with parts of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Malibu.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna issued a statement that called the review an important tool.    

“The Palisades and Eaton Fires were the worst natural disaster in our county’s history, and it tested us and our community in every possible way,” Luna said. “This After-Action Report is not only a reflection about the past, but it’s a tool for building a stronger emergency response. It highlights what went well and identifies where we can improve, with a focus on enhanced cross training and better technology to strengthen our preparedness. I’m deeply proud of how our deputy sheriffs performed with professionalism and dedication under dangerous and extraordinary circumstances, which exemplifies the strength and resilience of our department, and how we serve our communities.”

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the review and its findings and recommendations at the Board’s regularly scheduled public meeting on Tuesday.

“Our communities deserve transparency—and this report is a critical step toward accountability. It shows where we fell short during the January wildfires and where we must do better,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. “This report is only as strong as the action that follows. As climate-driven disasters accelerate, we must stay focused on education and prevention, training, and community partnerships that make us truly prepared. In the Third District, emergency preparedness is a way of life—and I look forward to our community joining us for events this fall to strengthen our work together.”

The report is available to view here.

Highlights of findings and recommendations are here.

A summary of County actions and improvements already taken or underway is available here.

For a summary of the report’s findings about Eaton Fire notifications and evacuations, click here.