California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into the emergency preparations and response surrounding the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire, with a specific focus on potential disparities in the historically Black community of West Altadena.
Investigation Focuses on Potential Discrimination
The investigation will determine whether the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s delayed notification and evacuation of West Altadena violated state anti-discrimination and disability rights laws. This action follows reporting by the Los Angeles Times that revealed West Altadena received late evacuation alerts and limited firefighting resources compared to other parts of Altadena as the fire raged.
Almost all of the 19 fatalities resulting from the fire occurred in West Altadena, including a 54-year-old woman whose family believes she died due to the delayed evacuation alerts. Researchers have found that Black Altadena residents disproportionately experienced damage from the fire.
Historical Context and Community Response
The disparity in response between West and East Altadena reflects a long-standing historical pattern. West Altadena became one of L.A.’s first middle-class Black neighborhoods in the 1960s, in part due to discriminatory redlining practices. Eastern Altadena remains more affluent and whiter, according to U.S. Census data.
Residents of West Altadena have expressed relief at the announcement, with some calling it “the most consequential act taken by any official in California for accountability since the fires.” Gina Clayton-Johnson, a leader with the Altadena for Accountability group, stated the investigation “sets a precedent for all survivors of future climate-driven disasters.”
Multiple Investigations Underway
Attorney General Bonta acknowledged other ongoing investigations into the fire response, but emphasized his agency’s unique position to determine if racial disparities played a role. The L.A. County Fire Department has also opened its own investigation into the delayed evacuation alerts. A state-ordered investigation conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute and a review by the California state auditor are currently in progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted this investigation?
The investigation was prompted by months of mounting pressure from survivors and a series of investigations by the Los Angeles Times, which revealed disparities in evacuation alerts and firefighting resources between West and East Altadena.
What is “disparate impact liability”?
Disparate impact liability is a legal tool used to determine potential discrimination that can occur without intent, by examining whether systems or structures have a disproportionately negative effect on a protected group.
What is the scope of the investigation?
The investigation will focus on whether the L.A. County Fire Department’s delay in notifying and evacuating the historically Black West Altadena community violated state anti-discrimination and disability rights laws.
As the investigation moves forward, will the findings lead to systemic changes in emergency response protocols to better protect vulnerable communities?
