In lieu of tomorrow’s update, please see the letter below from CEO, James Rothrock. Our next update will be provided Saturday, February 22nd.
February 18, 2025
Dear Residents, Families, and Team:
Of all the distress related to MonteCedro’s recent evacuation, I profoundly regret that two residents were missed in the initial evacuation. On behalf of ECS and MonteCedro I have personally apologized to the two residents, and we are deeply grateful that both were ultimately evacuated safely.
The leadership team and I are committed to a deep, unvarnished, third-party review of all that transpired regarding MonteCedro’s readiness and response to the Eaton fire. We are committed to transparency; therefore, each of you will be provided with any significant findings.
MonteCedro leadership, mindful of the fire-resistive construction of MonteCedro, and the dangers inherent in relocating more than 200 people, some with impairments, sought to balance the risks of sheltering in place and an evacuation. As you may know, MonteCedro was completed and opened in 2015. It was built to Type I standards requiring the use of non-combustible materials to withstand high temperatures and fire.
Type I buildings are also known as fire-resistive construction. Similar to the report in the LA Times regarding Ciela, a senior living community in Pacific Palisades, (Gutierrez, Fenno, St. John and Martinez; 12:07PM & Epilogue), MonteCedro’s construction was specifically designed to allow residents and team members to shelter in place as conditions warrant. It also provides an extended amount of time for an orderly and safe evacuation when required.
The forethought and planning that went into constructing MonteCedro prevented significant smoke or fire damage to its buildings during the Eaton Fire, and more importantly contributed to the safety of the residents that were not initially evacuated.
After ignition of the Eaton Fire during the evening on January 7, the Executive Director returned to MonteCedro, walked the property and spoke with residents, their families and team members, assuring them that the building was the safest place to be at the time.
Sometime after 10 p.m., with the wind blowing away from MonteCedro, the Executive Director left a senior manager with extensive knowledge of operations and the buildings in charge. Early the next morning, the Executive Director, who was three miles away, was notified by the manager that MonteCedro was being evacuated and advised the Executive Director to meet residents at the Pasadena Convention Center rather than attempt to assist in the evacuation.
MonteCedro is located in an area that received evacuation orders just before 6 a.m. on January 8. In the early morning of January 8, the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments arrived onsite before evacuation orders were issued and requested staff assist in an evacuation. At that time, the Fire Department took control of the evacuation.
Once MonteCedro residents were transported to the Pasadena Convention Center and MonteCedro team members resumed control, the team determined that two residents were unaccounted for, therefore, accompanied by a team member, I immediately returned to as close to MonteCedro as possible.
We located a firefighter a few blocks from MonteCedro and requested emergency personnel conduct a search for the two unaccounted-for residents. We emphatically requested to join emergency personnel to expedite and help with the search.
The firefighter called for assistance over his radio and then assured us that emergency personnel would search the MonteCedro buildings but would not allow us to assist. Then the firefighter informed us that if anyone were found he would not be able to provide their names nor tell us where they would be taken.
Time passed without a response from the emergency personnel conducting the search, so we attempted to make our way to MonteCedro by walking on the side streets southwest of the community to avoid entanglement with the multiple emergency vehicles on El Molino. However, shortly thereafter we encountered heavy layers of smoke, downed power lines and trees, and homes on fire, thus causing us to retreat.
We decided to return to the firefighter we had spoken to earlier. Upon seeing us, the firefighter asked, “Did you see the two people you were looking for?” After we answered “no” he stated, “they found two people.”
We then returned to the Pasadena Convention Center and learned that both residents had been transferred there safely. I sat with Jean Bruce Pool, one of the previously unaccounted-for residents, to confirm that she was okay. She stated that she had not charged her hearing aids and was not aware of the initial evacuation.
Three weeks later the Sheriff’s Department released body camera video to media outlets showing two deputies locating the unaccounted-for residents. The time stamp on the video was approximately an hour before we talked to the fireman. It then became clear to me that unknown to the fireman we had spoken to, he had received and reported information to us regarding the earlier discovery of the residents.
The body camera video showed the deputies finding both residents unharmed – one walking her dog outside and the other inside the building. The body camera video also revealed minimal smoke in or near the buildings; however, dark smoke was visible in the distance.
Our senior vice president of operations, Sharon Pewtress, directed MonteCedro’s report of evacuation activities, including the delayed evacuation of two residents to the California Department of Social Services (DSS).
Additionally, a complaint was filed with DSS by an unknown party, triggering an investigation according to their standard procedure. We are working cooperatively with DSS to clarify the events of the evacuation and subsequent search.
MonteCedro’s strength lies in its residents and team. It is humbling and inspiring to witness the beauty and resiliency of community during times of tragedy. MonteCedro will not only recover but be greater than ever.
Sincerely,
James S. Rothrock
President & CEO
