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Canyon residents say they felt abandoned during Eaton Fire; city explains regional command and mutual aid
Summary
Residents from Sierra Madre’s canyon neighborhoods told city officials they felt the area was "written off" during the Eaton Fire and reported firefighting access challenges; city officials and retired firefighters explained constraints tied to single-engine staffing, narrow roads, safety and regional incident command decisions.
Multiple canyon residents told city officials during a Sierra Madre listening session that they believed emergency responders de-prioritized the canyon during the Eaton Fire, a perception some summarized as being "written off."
"During that training, someone in this room literally said, 'the canyon is a write off,'" said Janine Gillan, a resident who urged the city to clarify whether the canyon would be defended in future incidents.
Speakers described neighbors and volunteers stepping in to defend homes where larger engines could not reach. One resident credited Paul Hagen, a retired water-department worker and volunteer, and several neighbors who…
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