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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Via AP news wire

LA County wildfire alert mistakenly sent to millions due to tech glitch

California Wildfires Faulty Alert - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

A technological glitch caused an emergency alert to be mistakenly sent to millions of Los Angeles County residents in January rather than only those in the proximity of a wildfire, according to a congressional report.

The mistaken alert on Jan. 9 came as residents were on edge two days after fierce winds and deadly wildfires ripped across Los Angeles County hillsides and burned through communities. The alert message was only supposed to go to residents in the San Fernando Valley facing an evacuation warning due to the Kenneth Fire.

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