Imperfect Paradise: Despite three 911 calls, how did two men with disabilities die in their home during the Eaton Fire?

California Love

LAist Studios

Music

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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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	Support for LAST comes from the Soraya, producing the West Coast premiere of Fiddler on the roof in Yiddish.
0:06.1	Enjoy a special concert production with English super titles featuring Tony nominee Stephen Skybell and award-winning Joel Gray.
0:13.0	Learn more at the Soraya.org.
0:16.1	Support for L.A.S. comes from Pasadena Playhouse presenting Eureka Day.
0:25.1	Jonathan Spector's Razor Sharp 2025 Tony Award-winning satire.
0:29.3	Eureka Day is on stage at Pasadena Playhouse beginning September 10th.
0:32.8	Tickets are on sale now at Pasadenaplayhouse.org.
0:36.7	Hey, everyone. This is in Perfect Paradise. I'm Antonia Sedehi.
0:39.8	I've mentioned this now a couple of times on past episodes, but I'm going to say it again. Things are going to sound a little different on Imperfect Paradise.
0:45.7	Moving forward, you will continue to get a new amazing episode every week of Imperfect Paradise in your feed.
0:51.3	But each episode is going to focus specifically on a deep dive interview with one of
0:56.0	our newsrooms reporters. You may hear me occasionally host Imperfect Paradise, along with a few of my
1:01.8	colleagues through this summer and fall. I have absolutely loved hosting Imperfect Paradise for these past
1:08.8	nearly two years. This show has accomplished so much in
1:12.3	that time we were nominated for a Livingston Award for our series about disgraced LA City Council
1:17.2	President Neri Martinez. Our series People v. Karen about a white woman who accused a Mexican
1:22.9	couple of trying to kidnap her child was up for an Amby Award. And most recently, our series,
1:28.2	Lions, Coyotes, and Bears, as well as District Attorney Gascon, won L.A. Press Awards.
1:32.9	Not to mention that a couple years ago, we were named one of the best podcasts by the Atlantic.
1:37.6	I want to take a moment to specifically thank and recognize Emily Garin and Natalie Chednovsky,
1:43.2	who have been the creative forces
1:44.7	bringing the show together for the past couple of years, and like me, are also moving off the show.
	...

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