LA County evacuees mistakenly warned amid wildfires
An evacuation warning was mistakenly sent to Los Angeles County residents on Thursday, causing confusion among those not near any of the fires still burning in the region. The alert was issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and did not consider the distance from the fires currently active in the area. The emergency message stated, “An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area,” which led to uncertainty and panic among many residents.
County Supervisor Janice Hahn acknowledged the error and assured residents that the evacuation warning issued was mistakenly sent countywide due to a technical glitch. She promptly announced that a correction would be issued shortly after the initial alert.
Shortly following the mistaken warning, a follow-up emergency alert was sent out, stating, "Disregard last EVACUATION WARNING." The incident highlighted the challenges of disseminating accurate and timely information during emergency situations, especially when technical errors can lead to widespread confusion among the public.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and continue monitoring official channels for updated information and guidance from authorities regarding the ongoing fires in the region.