Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger today issued the following statement in response to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement of a state investigation into the emergency response to the Eaton Fire in West Altadena.
“I welcome Attorney General Bonta’s investigation into the emergency response to the Eaton Fire and expect our County departments to fully cooperate.
The concerns raised by residents of West Altadena deserve to be taken seriously and examined thoroughly. From the outset, I have been committed to accountability and transparency. That is why I initiated 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. I have also fully supported the County’s participation in the Governor’s After-Action Review process to ensure a comprehensive assessment at every level.
If there were gaps, we must acknowledge them. If there were disparities, we must confront them. And if systems need to change, we must change them. I stand ready to support the Attorney General’s efforts and remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure we learn from this tragedy and strengthen our emergency response systems for every community we serve.”