Altadena’s recent fire death highlights what researchers are talking about is a growing trend in victim demographics as California struggles to withstand increasingly destructive urban wildfires.
Until about the past decade, California wildfires traditionally affected higher income white families, with deaths skewing to older people and men. However, recently, as fires grow and expand into densely populated areas, wildfires are increasingly reaching more diverse communities.
Of the 17 people killed by the Eaton Fire, more than 70% were black, while those killed were 64% for women. But, more often, those killed by the fire have a median age of 77, with at least one-third suffering damage that could affect their liquidity, according to the Los Angeles Times analysis.
2023 Research on wildfires in California Research conducted by U.S. Forest Service researchers found that “new fire regimes increasingly affect urban census areas across the state, meaning more people are present and may be affected by wildfires. The authors write that these changes mean that Latinos, Asian and Black Californians are more affected by wildfires than ever.
They say this trend may become more pronounced in the future and may have serious consequences for wildfire readiness.
“The study authors wrote: “…The increasing incidence of wildfires in urban areas suggests the need to increase the promotion of residents of more urbanized communities and communities who have never experienced wildfires.” ”
“Even among those historically affected by wildfires sporadically, their residents may have a lower perception of the risk, believing that wildfires will not occur near them. Again, they may be less prepared to be in wildfires, such as having “Go Bag “Or complete family mitigation measures.”
As far as the Eaton fire is concerned, emergency management officials have been severely criticized for major delays in issuing electronic evacuation orders – some say the delays have caused the lives of residents.
Altadena received Warning text and evacuation order Within about an hour when the fire began on the evening of January 7. In front of the house on the west side.
All 17 Eaton fire deaths west of North Lake Avenue occurred in areas where evacuation warnings were never received and evacuation orders were reportedly received hours after the house caught fire Times’ investigations found.
Many residents of Altadena in the west – shaped by discriminatory lending practices in the 1960s and 70s and are well known for A strong black community – Tell the Times they feel forgotten. North Lake Avenue is the boundary line for these red lines efforts, and the racial gap persists: According to census data, the east side of Altadena is white, with incomes higher than the west side.
Nearly one-third of the people killed in the Eaton fire suffered some form of disability. Among them is Carolyn Burns, 56.
Burns and Walker were walking around, living with her 76-year-old mother.
Carolyn Burns, 56, died in the Eaton fire.
(Los Angeles County Sheriff D)
Burns’ mother, also known as Carolyn, told Times that her other daughter called the Los Angeles County Fire Department around 10 or 11 p.m. to ask about their neighborhood The situation. It is reported that the street is currently safe and someone will knock on the door if evacuation is needed.
At around 3:30 a.m., my mother woke up and a neighbor yelled that the house was on fire. She jumped out of bed and saw the flames in the kitchen. She managed to escape, but her daughter did not.
“I don’t think they did their job because they didn’t get there in time or knock on the door,” the mother told the Times. “I think it’s too late. Even if they need to get her out of there, they don’t have enough time.” . We’re angry inside, we’ll never be the same.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Department declined to comment on evacuation orders or deaths burned. The agency said in a statement that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors already had Started the investigation Entry evacuation and emergency notice. The report will be returned to the board every 90 days and will be shared with the public.
The fire department “recognizes the enormous losses and challenges our community faces during the wildfires and is committed to supporting those affected,” the statement said.
Eaton and Palisade open fire
The devastating fire killed at least 28 people, destroyed and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings, worth more than $275 billion, and made the burning area 2½ times the size of Manhattan.
Mark Ghilarducci, who has been a director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for more than a decade, said that if residents with disabilities are indeed left behind, it wouldn’t “sound normal.”
“Often people know something about individuals with access and functionality needs,” he said. “Sometimes the 911 centers know their existence. A lot of times it’s law enforcement to make sure people leave and are notified.”
He said older people are often people who die in wildfires because their adjustments to social media are less restricted and may be more restricted, or rely on others to drive them.
“We need to figure out exactly what’s going on, why decisions are made, and if it’s a failure of technology, we also need to figure out that and figure out how we solve it?” Ghilarducci said. “This is not normal. We want people to get rid of the harm.”
Michele Steinberg, spokesman for the National Fire Protection Association’s Wildfire Division, said that in California history, large death tolls have been relatively rare in California history, but has been growing over the past decade.
Of all the major events, including the fires in Eaton and Palisade, the elderly are the most vulnerable.
Steinberg said older residents may have difficulty evacuating due to potential mobility issues, or they may just refuse to leave.
In some past cases, Steinberg has reviewed those young deaths (50 or 60s) while trying to help others.
“You are working to save pets, save people, take care of people,” Steinberg said. “You may have the ability, you will and be ready for yourself, but you have someone else to take care of.”
Ultimately, life and death can be attributed to a person’s response to rapid development and unexpected situations, she said. “People not only jump into their cars independently, but they are messy.”
Steinberg said residents may have fewer warnings from Altadena, where the fire spreads in the middle of the night, because the alarms make the situation even more deadly due to the speed of the fire and possible problems.
Among the elderly killed in the Eaton fire are Dalyce “Dede” Curry, 95, and Erliene Kelley, 83 years old.
Dalyce Kelley and her 95-year-old grandmother Dalyce Curry died at her home in Altadena during the Eaton Fire.
(Dalyce Kelley)
Curry is alone on fire night while her granddaughter Dalyce Kelley takes care of a sick relative and checks it on her grandmother through words.
Kelly fell asleep at home. At 6:38 am, she woke up and wrote to the Altadena neighborhood group to chat: “My grandmother is still there. We got home around midnight. Did the evacuation order be implemented? …If they evacuated everyone, I will come immediately, Please catch her.”
The neighbor replied: “Everyone was evacuated at 3:30.”
“Oh my goodness,” Kelly replied. “Go dress now. Her phone leads directly to voicemail.”
She rushed into the car and ran to her grandmother’s house, but was stopped by police barricades. Kelley gave a policeman her grandmother’s address and asked if he could check her. The officer later called Kelly and told her that Curry’s home was burned.
Kelly said Los Angeles medical examiner announced Curry’s death on January 11 and notified her family that her property had been found.
One of Curry’s neighbors, Ana Morales, 34, blames officials for failing to warn residents. She said she and her husband decided not to wait for a formal evacuation order and fled their homes around 9 p.m.
“I don’t think everyone has enough notice,” Morales told The Times. “We got rid of our intuition and fear. When we left, they should evacuate everyone, tell us to pack everything we need and leave. But nothing.”
Briana Navarro lost his grandmother Erliene Kelley in the fire, and he agreed. She said she said her grandmother and others could have been saved in the early notices of officials.
“A lot of the lives lost are older or disabled, which is unfortunate because they are one of the most vulnerable groups that need the biggest help in the family or support system,” she said. “I think with a notice, among us Some of us will give some of us enough time to help our family.”
Ruben Vives, a staff member of the era, contributed to the report.
