Sat Jan 11 03:13:00 UTC 2025: ## LA County Apologizes for False Wildfire Evacuation Alerts Amid Devastating Blazes
**Los Angeles, CA** – Los Angeles County officials issued a public apology Friday for widespread false wildfire evacuation alerts that caused widespread panic among residents already grappling with a devastating wildfire crisis. Millions of mobile phones received erroneous automated warnings on Thursday and again Friday morning, urging immediate evacuation even in areas far from the actual danger zones.
The alerts, issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, stated: “This is an emergency message… An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area.” This message was sent even to areas unaffected by the Kenneth Fire, a rapidly spreading blaze north of the city that, along with other fires, has consumed 35,000 acres, destroyed thousands of buildings, and claimed 10 lives. Approximately 153,000 people are currently under mandatory evacuation orders.
While corrections were sent out 20 minutes after the initial false alert, a similar erroneous message was repeated Friday morning. Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, expressed deep regret, stating the errors caused “frustration, anger, and fear.” He assured the public that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the system failures.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath echoed the apology, calling the errors “unacceptable” and acknowledging the added panic they caused during an already extremely stressful time.
Experts, like Chris Sheach, assistant professor of disaster management at Paul Smith’s College, explained that while automated warning systems are prone to errors, particularly during large-scale deployments, they remain crucial for saving lives during disasters. He attributed the likely cause to a coding error affecting area codes, but emphasized that the benefits of the system significantly outweigh the risks. Sheach stressed the importance of transparency and regaining public trust to ensure continued compliance with future alerts.
First Piper 