LOS ANGELES (CNS)- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this morning released an after-action report 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.”
The review did not identify a single point of failure, but instead “found that a series of weaknesses, including ‘outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,’ hampered the effectiveness of the county’s response,” according to a statement from the board.
“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.
The report is available to view HERE.
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