The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday called for improved emergency preparedness and response for the Mirador Apartments in Altadena after deficiencies were experienced by residents during the Eaton Fire.
The approved motion by Board Chair Kathryn Barger calls for a focused effort by county agencies to provide better assistance during future emergencies for Mirador residents, who are older adults, people with disabilities, mobility issues and medical conditions and formerly unhoused county residents.
“Recently, concerns regarding the residents of the Mirador Apartments … shared that they had little to no assistance during the storms and were left to fend for themselves,” according to the motion that the board will consider Tuesday.
“Many residents of the Mirador Apartments were left to navigate a dangerous situation on their own, despite being among the most medically and physically vulnerable in our communities,” said Barger said in a statement. “My motion seeks accountability and concrete improvements to ensure safety isn’t compromised in future emergencies.”
According to the motion, building management notified residents they could safely return 15 days after being evacuated amid the intense firestorm fueled by hurricane-force winds the night of Jan. 7. Upon their return, Mirador residents found that the building was unsafe and still full of ash, dust and the heavy odor of smoke.
The motion directs the Los Angeles County Department of Aging and Disabilities to directly engage with the senior residents at the apartment complex. County workers “will assess their needs, enhance support systems and improve emergency response planning tailored to their circumstances,” according to Barger’s office.
If adopted, the motion will also require county agencies to explore methods to improve emergency preparedness procedures and accountability protocols for supportive housing contractors. The Los Angeles County Development Authority would be tasked with exploring more stringent contract terms requiring emergency response plans and better oversight of housing services providers’ responsibilities during public safety crises.
The Mirador Apartments received partial funding from the LA County Development Authority, and Union Station Homeless Services received funding from the county through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to place people experiencing homelessness into permanent supportive housing at the apartment complex, the motion reported.
The 71-unit complex has 35 units reserved for unhoused seniors referred by the county Department of Mental Health through the Coordinated Entry System, according to the LA County Housing Resource Center. Another 35 apartments are for seniors who receive 45%-60% of the area median income, and the remaining unit is for the building manager.
Updated May 6, 2025, 10:32 a.m.
