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County wants probe into delayed evacuation alerts in Eaton fire area where 17 died | Pasadena Star-News

LA County officials are calling for an investigation into the county’s emergency alert system in light of the discovery that all 17 confirmed deaths from the Eaton fire occurred in west Altadena neighborhoods that did not receive evacuation orders until flames were already dangerously close. KBK’s Shant Karnikian told Pasadena Star-News that even if the alert system is found to have failed, it is very challenging to hold a government agency liable due to protections offered to agencies providing fire and police services. “If the city was held liable for arguably bad firefighting every time they didn’t do a perfect job, or didn’t make the right move, then cities would get sued to oblivion and they’d be discouraged from having a fire department. Unfortunately, it is a political problem, it is something that has to be dealt with at the local legislative level.”