General Discussion

At around 6:15 pm on January 7th, amid a 70 mph Santa Ana howler coming from the north, the Eaton Fire started beneath electrical transmission lines that cross the canyon’s steep terrain near Midwick Drive in Altadena.

Understanding the urgency, McGregor logged into his social media account and broadcast the only alert 2,500 members of the Altadena Weather and Climate community received for nearly an hour about the impending disaster, recording the equivalent of an all-caps warning to finish packing critical items, load them into a vehicle, and then “Get out!”

Within minutes of McGregor’s warning, hundreds of vehicles streamed down Altadena Drive away from the fire and toward safety.

So many vehicles headed south that first responders from Pasadena barely had clearance to scream past on their way north toward the fire. Alternative southbound routes on side streets like Martelo Avenue and Craig Avenue quickly filled-up with escaping residents, tree limbs and flying palm fronds.