Insufficient Resources Impede Rapid Response to Devastating Fires in Los Angeles: Report Highlights Challenges and Recommendations

FILE – The Eaton Fire burns vehicles and structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.

Nic Coury/AP

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Nic Coury/AP

LOS ANGELES — A lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings as flames began consuming neighborhoods during deadly Los Angeles-area wildfires in January, according to an outside review.

The Independent After-Action Report produced by the consulting firm McChrystal Group was commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors just weeks after the Eaton and Palisades fires killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes in and around Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

The report released Thursday says a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” hampered the county’s response.

Interviews with survivors and an Associated Press analysis of available data found evacuation orders for some neighborhoods of Altadena where the Eaton Fire swept through came long after houses burned down. AP reporting also showed similar delays for the Palisades Fire, though the Los Angeles Police Department initially handled evacuation management. The report sheds more light on flaws in the county alert system.

Staffing shortages

The report cites critical staffing shortages including a high number of sheriff’s deputy vacancies and an under-resourced Office of Emergency Management. In addition, first responders and incident commanders were unable to consistently share information due to unreliable cellular connectivity, inconsistent field reporting methods, and the use of various unconnected communication platforms.

“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 says.

It is not intended to investigate or assess blame, county officials said in a news release.

“This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about learning lessons, improving safety, and restoring public trust,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes Altadena.

The Office of Emergency Management began putting together its staffing plan for predicted heavy winds Jan. 3, four days before the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited. But an experienced staffer had been sent out of town for a training event. That meant several less-knowledgeable staffers were in key positions, according to the report.

They were also working with some new emergency notification software provided by an existing vendor: The county signed the expanded contract with emergency alert company Genasys in November, just before the holidays. Only four staff members were trained on Genasys when the fires hit, according to the report.

FILE – Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas, return to Mantia’s fire-damaged home after the Eaton Fire swept through, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif.

Ethan Swope/AP

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Ethan Swope/AP

The review also found that the process to communicate an evacuation decision to the public was slow, convoluted and involved multiple leadership roles across county-level departments.

In the case of the Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department identified areas that required evacuation.

They then communicated those areas to a member of the County’s Office of Emergency Management at the Incident Command center. This person then made a phone call or sent a text message to another OEM staffer located in the Emergency Operations Center, who then updated the system put in place by the third-party vendor and triggered an alert to the public.

Alerting the public

During the January inferno, according to the report, this process took between 20 and 30 minutes. That’s an improvement over the old system that took between 30 and 60 minutes for the public to receive notice of an evacuation, the report said.

Still, many of the county’s methods to alert the public require opting in.

Some of the evacuation alerts required residents to click a separate link to get complete information, hindering messaging. The communication system used for alerts did not provide complete information about the fire’s progression. Power outages and cell tower issues further hindered evacuation notices and the fire was moving too fast to keep up, the report found.

Before the fire, the county sent out a handful of warnings about the incoming Santa Ana wind event and amplified National Weather Service messaging on social media and in news releases, but there was no official, stand-alone preparedness messaging provided by the county.

Challenges during evacuations

Some sheriff’s department vehicles were aiding with evacuations in the Palisades area when the Eaton Fire broke out across the county. Those units headed to help evacuate residents in Altadena, along with responders from other agencies including search and rescue teams and staff from a downtown LA jail.

Still, a shortage of vehicles hindered the sheriff’s department response across neighborhoods where the Eaton Fire was burning.

“Vulnerable populations, especially older residents who were not monitoring alerts due to a digital divide and possible mobility challenges, faced increased risks of delayed evacuation,” the authors wrote.

What went right

The authors praised the heroism of first responders including sheriff’s deputies and county firefighters who evacuated senior care facilities, led public transit bus drivers through impacted neighborhoods and rescued people from burning homes.

FILE – Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.

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“This heroic response was driven by urgency and their commitment to save lives, but it also added additional complexity to their responsibilities as they worked to maintain broader operational oversight in the field,” the authors wrote.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the 133-page report when it meets next Tuesday.

The causes of the two fires are still under investigation.

After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsley fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaii’s 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102.

what specific personnel shortages are hindering the LAFD’s wildfire response capabilities, and how have these shortages impacted response times?

Key Findings of the Los Angeles Fire Response Report

A recently released report details critical shortcomings in Los Angeles’s ability to rapidly and effectively respond to increasingly frequent and intense wildfires. The analysis, conducted by the independent Urban Resilience Institute, points to a systemic lack of resources – personnel, equipment, and funding – as the primary impediment to mitigating fire damage and protecting lives. This isn’t simply about more resources, but strategic allocation and proactive investment in wildfire preparedness. The report emphasizes the growing threat of urban wildfires and the need for a paradigm shift in how Los Angeles approaches fire management.

Personnel Shortages & Training Gaps

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is facing a significant staffing crisis.

* Reduced Firefighter Numbers: The report indicates a 15% decrease in available firefighters over the past decade, despite a concurrent increase in population density and flammable vegetation.This directly impacts response times, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

* Specialized Training deficiencies: A lack of consistent and extensive training in wildfire mitigation techniques, particularly for structural firefighters, hinders effective initial attack strategies. The report recommends increased focus on:

* Defensible space creation

* Brush clearance protocols

* Advanced fire behavior modeling

* Mental Health Support: The report also highlights the critical need for increased mental health support for firefighters, who are routinely exposed to traumatic events during wildfire season. Firefighter burnout is a growing concern impacting readiness.

Equipment Deficiencies & Technological Needs

Outdated and insufficient equipment further exacerbates the challenges faced by the LAFD.

* Aging Fleet: A significant portion of the LAFD’s fire engine fleet is nearing the end of its service life, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced reliability. Modern fire engines equipped for both structural and wildland firefighting are urgently needed.

* Limited Aerial Resources: The report identifies a critical shortage of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft equipped for water and retardant drops. Access to these resources is crucial for containing rapidly spreading wildfires.

* Technological Integration: The LAFD lags behind other major cities in adopting advanced technologies for fire detection and monitoring. Recommendations include:

* Investing in drone technology for real-time situational awareness.

* Implementing AI-powered predictive modeling to anticipate fire risk.

* Expanding the use of smart sensors to detect early signs of ignition.

Funding Allocation & Prioritization

The report criticizes the current funding model for wildfire preparedness, which it deems reactive rather than proactive.

* Insufficient Budget: The allocated budget for wildfire prevention and mitigation is disproportionately small compared to the escalating risk. Increased funding is needed for:

* Brush clearance programs

* Vegetation management projects

* community education initiatives

* Delayed Investment: Funding is frequently enough allocated after a fire occurs, rather than proactively investing in preventative measures. This reactive approach is costly and ineffective.

* Interagency Coordination: Improved coordination and resource sharing between the LAFD, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and state/federal agencies are essential. Streamlining communication and establishing clear protocols for mutual aid are critical.

Case Study: The Skirball Fire (2017) & Lessons Learned

The 2017 Skirball Fire, which burned over 422 acres and destroyed several homes in the Bel Air neighborhood, serves as a stark exmaple of the consequences of insufficient resources. The report notes that:

* Slow Initial Response: initial response times were hampered by traffic congestion and limited access to the fire perimeter.

* Equipment Limitations: The LAFD struggled to effectively deploy resources due to the steep terrain and dense vegetation.

* Communication Challenges: Coordination between different agencies was hampered by communication breakdowns.

The Skirball Fire highlighted the urgent need for improved fire risk assessment, enhanced emergency preparedness, and increased investment in wildfire defense strategies.

Benefits of Proactive Investment in wildfire Preparedness

Investing in proactive wildfire preparedness yields significant benefits beyond simply reducing fire damage.

* Reduced Loss of Life: Faster response times and more effective mitigation strategies save lives.

* Economic Savings: Preventing large-scale wildfires reduces property damage, business interruption, and the costs associated with emergency response and recovery.

* Environmental Protection: Minimizing wildfire impacts protects valuable ecosystems and improves air quality.

* Enhanced Community Resilience: A well-prepared community is better able to withstand and recover from wildfire events.

Practical Tips for Los Angeles residents: Creating Defensible Space

Residents can play a crucial role in mitigating wildfire risk by taking proactive steps to create defensible space around their homes.

1. Clear Vegetation: Remove dry leaves,branches,and other flammable materials from around your home.
2. Maintain Lawns: Keep lawns mowed and watered.
3. **