Demand for Investigation into Eaton Fire Gains Attention

Nearly one year ago, signs calling for an investigation into the Eaton Fire, which devastated 9,000 homes and resulted in 19 fatalities in Altadena, appeared on floats during the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day.

This particular float was designed to honor victims of the wildfires that plagued the Los Angeles area in January 2025. It’s worth noting that approximately 17,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, with the fire’s death toll potentially reaching 400, per some reports.

During the parade, banners urging California Attorney General Rob Bonta to look into the Altadena fire briefly made it to the television broadcast before an unidentified man in a rain jacket rushed the float, crumpling the sign.

As the one-year anniversary of the 2025 wildfires approaches, many in Southern California who were affected are reminded of the tragic events. One observer on X remarked, “Yeah, they can tear up the signs and crumple them up, but the internet is forever.”

The wildfires from January 2025 sparked widespread litigation, highlighting allegations of negligence and incompetence among officials. Recent accusations have emerged that fire officials attempted to conceal their own errors.

The float, titled “Rising Together,” featured a phoenix and was meant to honor those who died in the various wildfires, showcasing the resilience and unity of survivors in areas like Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.

According to a joint statement from the California Community Foundation and Black Freedom Fund, which sponsored the float, while the signs were not part of the float itself, they supported calls for accountability. They stated, “Rising Together was created to celebrate the courage and resilience of wildfire survivors and to remember those whose lives were forever changed and those we have lost.”

The cause of the Eaton Fire in Altadena has not been formally determined, although there are reports suggesting that downed power lines may have played a role.

On New Year’s Eve, a significant investigation report detailed how a prior fire nearly wiped out Pacific Palisades, a community known for its mix of residents including celebrities and middle-class families. It appears that this fire was ignited by an arsonist but was initially allowed to smolder by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), only to be fanned back to life by strong winds shortly thereafter.

The investigation indicated that LAFD leadership engaged in tactics of secrecy, avoiding full accountability for missteps, particularly in their after-action reports related to the fire.

What the report overlooked was the fact that firefighters had been directed to leave the smoldering arson site unattended. Additionally, it criticized fire officials and Mayor Karen Bass, who was out of the country during the fire, for insufficient personnel and equipment. There were also questions about why fire engines weren’t deployed ahead of expected high winds, despite this being anticipated days in advance.

“I don’t think they have yet admitted they made a mistake. That’s a real problem,” said Sue Pascoe, editor of a local newspaper. She lost her home of 30 years in the fire. “They’re still trying to cover it up… They’re not regular firefighters. They’re coming from higher up.”

Moreover, reports suggested that during the Palisades Fire incident, there may have been a lack of central command at City Hall. Mayor Bass wasn’t alone in being unreachable; Vice Mayor Brian K. Williams was also unavailable, having been suspended weeks prior for creating a false bomb threat to avoid a Zoom meeting.

Williams ultimately pleaded guilty to making a fabricated bomb threat but was sentenced to just one year of probation and a $5,000 fine, with his attorneys citing “undiagnosed mental health issues” at the time of the incident.