The Eaton fire has left a devastating mark on our community, claiming 17 lives and destroying more than 7,000 homes. Among the many frustrations shared by Altadena residents, one issue stands out: the lack of timely evacuation notices.
As flames erupted at 6:30 p.m. on Jan.7, critical evacuation orders for Western Altadena didn’t come until 3:35 a.m., which was hours too late. By then, embers had already ignited homes leaving many residents trapped.
To make matters worse, some neighborhoods that were never at risk received early alerts, while those in immediate danger were left without warning. As the fire moved rapidly, many relied on neighbors and social media for updates instead of official alerts. This alarming failure in communication has raised serious questions about emergency preparedness and accountability.
Our client, Cecilia Turcios, is one of the many Altadena residents who lost everything in the Eaton fire. Without any official guidance or evacuation orders, Cecilia was forced to make life-saving decisions on her own, without seconds to waste. She vividly recalls waking up her next door neighbor, Ana Medina, in the middle of the night desperate to warn her when no official alerts came. It was the smell of smoke that first alerted Cecilia to the fire, which became her family’s warning to flee their home.
Reflecting on her own experience, Cecilia believes the true loss of lives from this fire is actually much higher than the current death toll suggests. The lack of emergency communication could have cost Cecilia and her family their lives. Click HERE to hear more about Cecilia and her inspiring story.
Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger has called for an outside investigation into the evacuations. County officials have also vowed to conduct a full review of their actions during the fire, pledging to implement better emergency procedures to prevent similar failures in the future. Unfortunately these pledges do not bring back the lives that were lost.
“When lives are at stake, every second counts,” Miguel Custodio says. “This tragedy shows the devastating cost of delays in emergency response, and why we must demand better systems to protect our communities.”
Click HERE to visit our Instagram page for more information from Miguel Custodio and Vineet Dubey about the Eaton fire evacuations.
At Custodio & Dubey, we’re standing up for Eaton fire victims. We believe Southern California Edison’s actions contributed to this tragedy and we’re fighting to secure the compensation you deserve.
For those directly affected by the fires, we want you to know that our law firm is here to help. Our experienced legal team is here to provide support and representation in mass tort litigation for fire victims. We focus on holding responsible parties accountable, including utility companies and government entities, based on the conclusive reports of the fire’s cause to ensure you receive justice and compensation.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the Hurst, Palisades, Eaton, or Sunset Fires, please encourage them to visit our resource page linked below. A free form is available to fill out with details about your situation HERE to learn more about your rights and potential compensation.
English Fire Resources
Spanish Fire Resources
If you’d like to speak to someone directly, please give us a call at (213) 593-9095.
We’ve compiled a list of official resources to help fire victims stay informed and access support: