Researchers from UCLA presented initial findings from a random‑sample survey of evacuees from the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, highlighting travel behavior and gaps in preparedness.

Dr. Haodin (UCLA postdoctoral scholar) reported that “over 90% of evacuees on both areas evacuated either driving or riding in household vehicles,” and that nearly half of households that drove used two or more vehicles — a factor that greatly increases demand on roadway capacity during an evacuation.

The Palisades respondents reported the most severe travel impacts: more than half said it took over an hour to reach their first destination and congestion was cited by more than 60% as a major obstacle. By contrast, evacuees from the Eaton Fire reported shorter travel times and fewer congestion problems, reflecting differences in road network geometry and bottlenecks, Dr. Haodin said.

The research team also found that most evacuees first sought shelter with family or friends; about 20% went to hotels or motels. Notably, the survey indicated many respondents lacked an evacuation plan in advance: Dr. Haodin said roughly three‑quarters of Palisades respondents had not had a prepared evacuation plan before the incident.

Commissioners and attendees asked about vulnerable populations, transit agency roles in evacuation, and how lessons from Paradise and other fires could inform preparedness. Dr. Haodin said next analyses will examine household characteristics, vulnerability (age and disability), communication and tribal behaviors, and that several policy briefs are forthcoming.

Why it matters: Evacuation results underscore the limits of private‑vehicle reliance during urban wildfires, highlight the importance of pre‑event planning and evacuation routing, and point to opportunities for better coordinated transit, sheltering and public communication strategies.