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Topics: US News, News, Environment, Weather
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: US News, News, Environment, Weather
Los Angeles County residents were accidentally sent an alarming evacuation alert during the wildfires which raised major concerns.
The emergency alert in question 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."
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The City of Beverly Hills' official X account has since shared a statement following the error writing on Friday (10 January): "At approximately 4 a.m. today, some residents in Beverly Hills may have received another evacuation alert from the LA County Fire Department.
"The County’s Office of Emergency Management has confirmed this was another error. There are no evacuations currently affecting BH."
Kevin McGowan, the director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, has also issued a statement on the matter.
"This warning was intended only for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills, and those within the West Hills community of Los Angeles," he said about the alert which was mistakenly sent to nearly 10 million people.
McGowan continued: "We understand that these wildfires have created great anxiety, hardship and distress among our residents, and we are committed to sharing accurate information."
He later told NBC Los Angeles: "We do not understand at the moment what caused that error. It wasn’t a human error; the correct zones were initiated.
"So we are working to troubleshoot that."
California, which is is one of 14 states that uses inmates to help fight fires, has seen 14,000 emergency responders working to bring the destruction to a halt.
The Los Angeles Times reports that inmates are currently believed to make up approximately 30 percent of the state’s firefighting force.
"Wildfires are a constant and formidable challenge for California, and CDCR conservation fire camps remain dedicated to supporting the state’s response," Jeff Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in a statement this week.
"The work of our incarcerated firefighters and staff is an essential part of this effort, and their commitment to protecting lives and property during these emergencies cannot be overstated."
The inmates are paid approximately $27 for an entire 24-hour shift - which works out about $1.12 dollars an hour - as well as being provided with food like sandwiches and fruit during the day.