Altadena Meteorologist Edgar McGregor Honored for Life-Saving Warnings During Eaton Fire

Altadena meteorologist Edgar McGregor could see the flames just seven blocks from his Altadena house on the evening of Tuesday, January 7. He knew it was bad.

He had no idea how bad.

“When I took that video warning people to evacuate,” he said Monday at a press conference honoring his work, “It was in between running out to my car to put stuff in and going back in the house to grab a few things that I wanted. I should have heeded my own warnings and packed my car, but being seven blocks away, the rational side of my mind just thought there’s no way a fire could reach us.”

“I went to a property on Montana Drive, I believe it was in Pasadena, which is where the fire [progressed] furthest into the Los Angeles basin,” he continued. “That was 23 blocks removed from the mountains. So, where I was seven blocks away, was definitely in danger, and I was releasing all those warnings as I was evacuating my own family and my own pets.”

On Monday the Altadena community came together to honor McGregor, whose urgent social media warnings ahead of and during the Eaton Fire are credited with saving dozens if not hundreds of lives.

Officials, residents, and public figures gathered for a press conference to recognize McGregor’s heroic efforts, which ensured early evacuations and reduced potential casualties in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

At the press conference, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu praised McGregor for his swift action and the trust he had built with the community through his forecasts.

“Edgar’s dedication and the faith he instilled in Altadena residents allowed them to recognize that his warnings were real and warranted,” she said.

“At 7:17 p.m. on January 7th, he posted a video stating, ‘This is imminent. Do not wait for an official evacuation notice. If you think you should leave, get out, get out.’ And people listened,” Chu noted.

McGregor, known for his detailed weather forecasting and climate advocacy, gained widespread attention when his January 7th warnings urged Altadena residents to evacuate before official orders were issued. His proactive approach, based on years of studying the area’s microclimate, proved invaluable as the fire rapidly consumed over 9,000 structures, left 20,000 people without homes, and claimed 17 lives.

What began as a local weather page, Altadena Weather and Climate, with about 2,500 followers in early January, grew to 14,500 followers as McGregor tracked conditions during the Eaton Fire — one of the worst natural disasters in American history, according to Chu.

Several residents shared their survival stories, crediting McGregor’s warnings for their safety. One family had packed their bags earlier in the afternoon based on McGregor’s alerts, allowing them to evacuate swiftly with their toddler when the fire broke out. Another resident saw his warning and decided to check into a hotel; upon returning, they found their home destroyed, with a fallen tree blocking what would have been their only escape route.

“For so many residents, Edgar’s updates provided those precious extra moments to save themselves, their families, and their pets,” Chu added. “There is no doubt in my mind that he prevented an even greater tragedy that night.”

Altadena Town Council Vice Chair Nic Arnzen, who personally lost his home in the fire, also honored McGregor’s contributions.

“We are digging through ashes, looking for anything we can hold onto,” Arnzen said, his voice filled with emotion. “But we don’t have to search for the greatest treasure—Edgar is here in our community. He saved lives. We lost 17 of our neighbors, but without his warnings, that number would have been much higher.”

Arnzen presented McGregor with a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Town Council, four of whose members lost their homes in the disaster.

McGregor, visibly moved by the tributes, reflected on his decision to issue such an urgent warning.

“I remember thinking, ‘Am I really going to use this kind of language?’” he said. “But when I looked at the conditions, I knew—this was going to be like Lahaina. This was going to be like Paradise. And I had to make sure people understood that.”

McGregor, who has lived in Pasadena all his life and holds a degree in climate science, started his Facebook page, Altadena Weather and Climate, to provide hyperlocal forecasts to his community. The page grew from 2,500 followers to over 14,500 in the wake of the Eaton Fire.

“This was not the first time we’ve lost an American town to a major wildfire during a windstorm,” McGregor emphasized. “But we have the technology to see these conditions forming days in advance. We need to deploy resources early and make sure that if a fire does break out, evacuations happen as quickly as possible. Maybe we can’t save every structure, but we can save more lives.”

McGregor also highlighted the importance of improving emergency response systems and better utilizing meteorological tools. He referenced the thousands of weather stations installed by Southern California Edison, which monitor conditions to help determine when power lines should be de-energized to prevent fires.

“Unfortunately, those stations don’t include rainfall data, which is also critical for predicting mudslides in the aftermath of these disasters,” he noted.

The meteorologist also emphasized the importance of planting native trees as a wildfire mitigation strategy.

“I noticed that the Western sycamores and Coast live oaks in our canyons didn’t burn as badly, while the Mediterranean stone pines went up in flames,” he said. “Planting native species can prevent fires from spreading as aggressively from house to house.”

As Altadena begins years of rebuilding, McGregor remains committed to continuing his forecasts and educating the public on fire preparedness. His Facebook group remains free to the public, but he also offers a Patreon subscription for those who want hyperlocal updates sent directly to their inbox.

“This isn’t over,” McGregor warned. “We’ve seen similar windstorms in past years, and with the extreme rain California has received over the last two years followed by months of drought, the fuel loads are only getting worse. We have to be vigilant.”

Though the Eaton Fire left devastation in its wake, Altadena remains strong, with neighbors supporting and looking out for one another—just as Edgar McGregor did on January 7.