California AG Bonta launches civil rights probe of Eaton Fire response in historically Black West Altadena

By Chelsea Hylton

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched a civil rights investigation into the emergency response of the Eaton Fire and the impact it had on the historically Black neighborhood of West Altadena. 

On Thursday morning, Bonta said the investigation’s overarching question is, “Did the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s delay in notifying and evacuating the historically Black West Altadena community during the Eaton Fire violate state anti-discrimination and disability rights laws?”

“There are concerning circumstances surrounding the Eaton Fire that have raised questions,” Bonta said. “The biggest of which is that there was indisputably a delayed emergency notification and evacuation of West Altadena. We’re here to ask why.”

Many Altadena-area residents reported that they never received warnings at the onset of the Eaton Fire, while others said they received notifications as they were already preparing to leave or had already evacuated.  

The Eaton Fire erupted on the night of Jan. 7, 2025, and burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed thousands of buildings in the Altadena and Sierra Madre. The fire killed 19 people, 18 of whom were residents of West Altadena, Bonta said. 

Earlier that same day, the Palisades Fire sparked in the Pacific Palisades, decimating entire communities. The fires became some of the most destructive and deadliest in California history. 

The emergency response to the fire has been criticized by many, leading to several lawsuits. Bonta said this investigation stands out because “it will answer legal questions that fall under the DOJ’s purview, including if there was disparate impact based on race.”

When asked by reporters about the timing of this investigation, Bonta said that the Department of Justice “is not starting from scratch” and has been working on it for months. He felt that it was an appropriate time to make an announcement. 

CBS LA has reached out to the LA County fire chief for a comment and is waiting for a response. 

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena and Pasadena, said she welcomes Bonta’s investigation and expects county departments to fully cooperate. 

“If there were gaps, we must acknowledge them. If there were disparities, we must confront them,” Barger said. “And if systems need to change, we must change them.”

An independent investigation commissioned by the LA County Board of Supervisors found that downed cell towers may have impacted alerts. The McChrystal Group found differences in the alerts 

Barger said since the start of the fire, she has been committed to accountability, and that’s why she initiated the “an independent After-Action Review led by the McChrystal Group to scrutinize the County’s actions and identify what worked, what didn’t, and where improvements are needed.”

Days prior to the fire starting, the National Weather Service warned of a potentially “life-threatening and destructive windstorm.” Weather forecasts also predicted wind gusts of up to 100 mph in some parts of the region. 

In Spetember 2025, Altadena for Accountability, a Black-led collective of residents and community memebers, called on the DOJ to launch an investigation into the emergency response of local agencies. 

During this year’s Rose Parade, a banner was briefly displayed calling on Bonta to launch an investigation into the response by Los Angeles County officials. 

 The message read: “AG Bonta — Altadena demands an investigation.”

Moments after the float passed, a guide who was walking with the float took the sign, but demonstrators and community members believe they got their message across.