Official investigation reports or statements from Los Angeles County government

LA County Mistakenly Sends Evacuation Alert Countywide; Alert Meant for Kenneth Fire Area

Jan 10, 2025, 12:17 AM

An emergency evacuation alert was mistakenly sent to all residents of Los Angeles County just before 4 p.m. on Thursday, causing confusion and panic among those not affected by wildfires. The alert, intended only for residents near the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills area, was issued in error due to a technical mistake, according to Los Angeles County officials. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn confirmed, “I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received on our phones was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error.” The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Emergency Management Department acknowledged the mistake and clarified that evacuation orders had not changed, issuing correction alerts to residents. The erroneous alert came as wildfires, including the Kenneth Fire, continued to burn in certain areas but did not impact the entire county. Officials urged residents to refer to official sources for accurate evacuation information.