Imperfect Paradise: Despite three 911 calls, how did two men with disabilities die in their home during the Eaton Fire?
Norco 80
LAist Studios
3.7 • 889 Ratings
🗓️ 6 August 2025
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
West Altadena residents Anthony Mitchell Sr. and his son Justin Mitchell were stuck at home when the Eaton Fire erupted Jan. 7. Both had disabilities, and to evacuate, they needed help. Mitchell Sr. and family members called 911 multiple times as the fire spread. But first responders didn't make it in time to evacuate the father and son. Seven months after the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, guest host Jill Replogle looks back with LAist climate and environment reporter Erin Stone. They discuss the timeline of the 911 calls and how emergency planning continues to leave people with disabilities behind in Los Angeles.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, this is Larry Mantle. This year marks the 40th anniversary of my program air talk. On the show, |
| 0:06.1 | we've discussed the biggest topics and events of the day from earthquakes to elections. Please |
| 0:10.8 | join me for the biggest conversation in Southern California for 40 years. Hi, I'm Samin Nasrat, |
| 0:17.8 | author of Salt Fat, Acid Heat. I'm doing a special live event co co-presented by show and tell and LAIST on October 18th at the United Theater on Broadway. |
| 0:26.5 | Get tickets now at laist.com slash events. |
| 0:30.9 | Hey, everyone. This is in Perfect Paradise. I'm Antonia Sedejito. I've mentioned this now a couple of times on past episodes, but I'm going to say it again. |
| 0:39.4 | Things are going to sound a little different on Imperfect Paradise. |
| 0:43.3 | Moving forward, you will continue to get a new amazing episode every week of Imperfect Paradise in your feed. |
| 0:49.0 | But each episode is going to focus specifically on a deep dive interview with one of our newsrooms reporters. |
| 0:55.7 | You may hear me occasionally host Imperfect Paradise, along with a few of my colleagues, |
| 1:00.4 | through this summer and fall. I have absolutely loved hosting Imperfect Paradise for these past |
| 1:06.5 | nearly two years. This show has accomplished so much in that time we were nominated for a Livingston |
| 1:12.2 | Award for our series about disgraced LA City Council President Nure Martinez. Our series People |
| 1:17.7 | versus Karen about a white woman who accused a Mexican couple of trying to kidnap her child |
| 1:22.3 | was up for an Ambie Award. And most recently, our series Lions, Coyotes, and Bears, as well as District Attorney |
| 1:28.3 | Gascon, won L.A. Press Awards. Not to mention that a couple years ago, we were named one of the |
| 1:33.1 | best podcasts by the Atlantic. I want to take a moment to specifically thank and recognize Emily |
| 1:39.2 | Garin and Natalie Chednovsky, who have been the creative forces bringing the show together |
| 1:43.4 | for the past couple of years, and like have been the creative forces bringing the show together for the past |
| 1:44.4 | couple of years, and like me, are also moving off the show. I'm so grateful to everyone who's |
| 1:50.4 | worked on the show so far, as well as everyone who has listened. I'm really excited for what's |
| 1:55.6 | next on Imperfect Paradise. So without further ado, here's Jill Replagall. |
... |
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