Report cites missed alerts and coordination lapses in Eaton and Palisades fires

Priya Raman · 2026-10-03T01:20:13.530Z

The LAFD needs stricter rules to confirm fires are fully out before moving on, or more lives will be lost in future wind events.

Report cites missed alerts and coordination lapses in Eaton and Palisades fires — © IJR

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An independent 724-page review by UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute, commissioned by Gov. Gavin Newsom, found the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires exposed weaknesses including inadequate planning, poor coordination and communication breakdowns. The fires killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 buildings. The Palisades fire alone killed 12 and destroyed more than 6,800 structures after the Jan. 1 Lachman fire smoldered and reignited on Jan. 7. The report found LAFD lacked a comprehensive procedure to confirm fires were fully extinguished and did not adequately act on warnings the Lachman fire still smoldered. Police dispatchers temporarily routed 911 calls through a single captain's personal cellphone. Researchers evaluated more than 900 burned structures, interviewed 200 residents and 295 people across 22 agencies, and made 266 recommendations, finding no single decision explains the tragedy. LAFD told the Los Angeles Times it accepts the findings on confirming fires are out, tracking units and evacuation planning. In October 2025 an LAFD officer posted that holdover fires are extremely difficult to detect; the Times later reported firefighters and residents observed smoldering with little response from leaders.