Mandatory evacuation orders, affecting nearly 180,000 people, are in place due to raging wildfires in Los Angeles County, causing significant displacement. However, a county-wide evacuation warning mistakenly sent to many more residents on Thursday evening unnecessarily heightened anxieties and exacerbated the situation.
A county-wide alert, issued shortly before 4 p.m. local time, read: “This is an emergency message from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in your area. Remain vigilant of any threats and be ready to evacuate. Gather loved ones, pets, and supplies. Continue to monitor local weather, news, and the webpage for more information.”
Subsequent online messages, however, instructed recipients to disregard the initial alert.
Los Angeles County clarified at 4:21 p.m. that the alert was intended only for Calabasas and Agoura Hills residents near the fire in Woodland Hills.
Reports attribute the false alert to a “technical error.” Kevin McGowan, director of the County of Los Angeles Office of Emergency Management, explained to reporters at the city’s Emergency Operations Center: “Upon realization of this malfunction, the Office of Emergency Management and the county’s Emergency Operations Center took immediate action to issue a cancellation and then also issue a second wireless emergency alert to correct the misinformation from the malfunction.”
McGowan further stated: “We understand that these wildfires have created great anxiety, hardship and distress among our residents, and we are committed to sharing accurate information. For updates on wildfires currently burning in LA County, including evacuation information, please visit .”
Some social media users reported receiving a second evacuation warning around 5 p.m., quickly followed by another cancellation.
The erroneous alerts intensified public anxiety surrounding the fires, which have already resulted in fatalities and significant property damage.
One X user commented: “Great, now Los Angeles is sending accidental “false alarm” evacuation notices to millions of people. Scared the sh-t out of me.”
Another X user posted: “This is such a big mistake, the mass hysteria this will ensue will make the roads extremely dangerous.”
“We know you’re busy @LAFD,” another user tweeted, “but alerting the entire city to evacuate now is a bit stressful! Many of us are surrounded by fires and know it could happen any minute. Please don’t give us another heart attack unnecessarily!”
Criticism targeted government officials, already facing scrutiny for perceived unpreparedness and incompetence. “As if our ‘leaders’ have not failed us enough already with these wildfires, now a ‘technical glitch’ sent out an evacuation warning to essentially everyone in #LosAngeles County ‘by mistake’ probably creating an unnecessary panic for everyone in #LA,” one X user wrote. Another added, “This administration is embarrassing.”
“LA County is sending out false emergency evacuation alerts on the cell system,” another X user tweeted. “This is being so badly managed that [in my opinion] prison may be more appropriate than just firing those responsible.”
Experts emphasize the importance of preparedness for residents in fire-prone areas. A “go bag,” they advise, should include essentials like water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, first-aid supplies, a printed map, and other necessities.