Public safety officials fear that residents might ignore future, accurate alerts if they become accustomed to false warnings.

Around 4:15 p.m., another alert was sent out by the the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management asking residents to disregard the previous alert, as it was only intended for the Kenneth fire, which erupted near West Hills bordering Los Angeles and Ventura counties earlier in the afternoon.

My home is not in a mandatory evacuation zone, or even a warning zone. It is, or is supposed to be, safe. And yet, my family’s phones keep blaring with evacuation notices, as they move in and out of service.