Jan 10, 2025

False Evacuation Alert Sparks Panic Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

In a night of intense anxiety for Los Angeles County residents already grappling with historic wildfires, a mistaken evacuation alert on Thursday added chaos to an already volatile situation.

The alert, which lit up phones across the county, urged people to "gather loved ones, pets, and supplies" and prepare to evacuate immediately. Residents, many already on edge due to the raging Kenneth Fire, scrambled into action, packing essentials and calling loved ones in a state of panic.

An evacuation order issued across Los Angeles County sent residents battling the historic wildfires into panic — until they realized minutes later the alert was sent by mistake.

Chaos Unleashed by Error

The message, labeled as an “EVACUATION WARNING,” sent shockwaves through the region. However, minutes later, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the mistake, attributing the widespread alert to a technical error.

“I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received was mistakenly issued countywide,” Hahn explained. “A correction will be issued shortly.”

True to her word, an updated alert followed, stating: “Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING. It was for Kenneth Fire Only.” This correction did little to quell the frustration of residents who had already begun acting on the erroneous warning.

A correction alert was issued minutes later: “Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING. It was for Kenneth Fire Only.”

Fires sparked Tuesday morning, and days later have ravaged nearly 30,000 acres (47 square miles) in Los Angeles County, causing mass destruction and evacuations. AFP via Getty Images

Wildfires Wreak Havoc

The Kenneth Fire, which broke out on Tuesday, has since consumed nearly 30,000 acres—equivalent to 47 square miles—of Los Angeles County. The fire has left a path of destruction, prompting evacuations and fueling widespread distress.

For many, the false alert was the tipping point. Thomas Jenkins, a downtown LA resident, recounted his frantic reaction: “I was on the phone with family when the alert came through. I jumped up and started packing immediately, even though I live far from the fire zone. It was irresponsible and caused panic for nothing.”

The botched alert drew sharp criticism on social media. “Nice work, LA County, for sending an INCORRECT evacuation alert and freaking out countless people,” one user posted on X. Another shared how their neighbor fled in a panic. “My upstairs neighbor was frantic and left immediately.”

Adding fuel to the fire, some residents pointed to broader frustrations with the government’s response to the crisis. Critics have called for California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to resign, accusing them of mismanaging resources and prioritizing politics over public safety.

One user took to X and said, “Nice work la county for sending out an INCORRECT evacuation alert for the entire county and freaking out many people.”AP

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A Leadership Crisis?

Mayor Bass, in particular, has come under scrutiny. Critics have lambasted her decision to slash LA’s firefighting budget by millions and questioned her absence from the city as fires erupted. Bass was attending the Ghanaian presidential inauguration when the wildfires began. She returned on Wednesday but has faced backlash for her perceived lack of urgency.

“My poor upstairs neighbor was frantic to get out of here because of it and left in a panic.”

“What a complete and utter failure, all of you,” another user posted to X.

During a press conference, Bass read from a script, advising those impacted to visit “URL” for more information—a blunder that further incensed residents. One local resident noted, “Imagine getting this text after going through what we have in the last 48 hours. What a complete and utter failure.”

Amid the outrage, some residents urged understanding. “I think everyone has been on high alert for the last 48-72 hours,” one individual told The Post. “More good has come from the evacuations than harm. We all need a little grace right now.”

Many have accused Bass of being derelict in her duty to Los Angeles ahead of the fires that erupted while she was thousands of miles away on a trip to Ghana to celebrate the African nation’s presidential inauguration.

She was also slammed for slashing LA’s firefighting budget by tens of millions.

Since she returned to her burning city on Wednesday, Bass has remained evasive with reporters and even told those affected by the devastating fires during a press conference.

The erroneous alert also raised concerns about trust in future emergency notifications. Reporter Bernie Zilio, a local resident, called the mistake “beyond negligent.” She described the chaos it caused in her household: “We immediately started packing. Our bags have been by the door for days, and my heart is still racing. This mistake will make people hesitant to trust actual alerts when they matter most.”

Zilio highlighted a broader issue: “Do they realize the mayhem this causes? The traffic, the confusion—it’s unacceptable.”

The fallout from the mistake has left residents grappling with heightened anxiety as they face a relentless wildfire season. As LA County continues to battle the Kenneth Fire, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of clear, accurate communication during emergencies. For many, the trust in local authorities has been shaken, leaving a lingering question: Will residents heed the next alert, or dismiss it as another error?