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Altadena residents demand probe of Eaton Canyon fire response; board pledges outside audit and follow-up
Summary
Multiple Altadena residents and community groups urged Los Angeles County supervisors to open an independent investigation into the Eaton Canyon wildfires and alleged failures by the fire and sheriff departments; the board said it will arrange an independent outside audit and community notification.
Residents who lost homes in the Eaton Canyon wildfires and community organizations pressed the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on March 18 for an independent investigation into the county’s emergency response and utility failures.
Several residents described harrowing evacuations and the rapid loss of homes. Sofia Vidal, who said she had been a homeowner in Altadena for 28 years and lost her house to the fire, told the board she and her husband were the only ones fighting flames around their home as they evacuated before dawn. “When my house was burning, the only ones that were there were my husband and myself,” Vidal said in public comment; she asked why firefighters and other public servants were not present at the time of the fire.
Other callers and in-person speakers urged a formal, outside review. Mary Alice Patterson, an Altadena resident, said the county’s firefighting response was inadequate and called for a full investigation and accountability, including leadership review; she asked whether Chief Marrone should step down. Sylvie Andrews and other witnesses asked whether the county’s wildfire strategy had effectively abandoned areas north of the 210 Freeway and requested that eyewitness testimony and video footage be included in any inquiry.
The board acknowledged the volume and seriousness of public concerns and indicated it would arrange an independent outside audit rather than an internal-only review. A member of the board staff told speakers that community notification about an outside audit will be forthcoming and that the county will seek community input so eyewitness accounts and local impacts can be incorporated into any investigation.
Speakers also raised related concerns about water access and evacuation communications during the fire. Several said they saw limited or no fire department or sheriff presence during the initial evacuation; others reported hydrant and supply problems. Speakers requested clarity about which agencies were responsible for water supply and emergency notifications.
The board did not vote on policy changes at the meeting related to the fire response. Supervisors said staff would follow up with community outreach and that an independent review would be pursued so that findings would not be conducted solely by county departments. The board scheduled continued work on other agenda items and closed-session business after public comment concluded.
This public-comment sequence was extensive and included residents and advocates who urged transparency and accountability in wildfire response and recovery.
