00:00I'm here to formally announce that the California Department of Justice, led by our Civil Rights
00:07Enforcement Section, has launched an independent investigation into the emergency response to the
00:14Eaton Fire and the disproportionately devastating impact it had on the historically Black neighborhood
00:22of West Altadena. As many remember all too well, the Eaton Fire burned more than 14,000 acres in January
00:322025. At least 19 people were killed, including 18 who were residents of West Altadena. So
00:41all but one who died, tragically, were residents of West Altadena. More than 9,000 buildings were
00:49destroyed and nearly six in 10 Black-owned homes were damaged. It was one of the most destructive
00:57and deadliest fires in the history of California. The investigation we've launched is driven by one
01:04overarching question. Did the Los Angeles County Fire Department's delay in notifying and evacuating
01:11the historically Black West Altadena community during the Eaton Fire violate state anti-discrimination
01:17and disability rights laws? Meaning, did unlawful race, disability, or age-based discrimination
01:26in the emergency response result in a delayed evacuation notification that disproportionately impacted
01:33West Altadena residents? That's the question. We don't know the answer.
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