Fires sparked in trash and debris at homeless encampments have become a recurring problem in Los Angeles’ Sepulveda Basin, raising concerns among residents about the potential for the fires to spread to nearby homes.
“It’s become a public safety concern due to the heavy vegetation, the encampments, and illegal dumping in the area,” Captain Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff on Friday.
Encino resident Dan Sweeney says city crews clear the encampments, only to see them return.
“They’ve done cleanups of the bamboo area along Burbank (Boulevard). They clear it out, but typically within six months, people are back again,” Sweeney said.
Bonni Milani, another Encino resident, warns it’s only a matter of time before homes are threatened.
“If they set a fire and the winds pick up, this entire area is going to go,” she said.
Fire officials say clearing the area is challenging due to health hazards, booby traps, and dense vegetation, all of which require additional manpower.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order a year ago directing cities to clean up encampments. He is now forming a task force to remove dangerous encampments and provide services to those living in them.
Residents like Milani believe the city must strike a balance between public safety and compassion.
“I think the city really needs to focus on getting people out of homeless encampments and into facilities where they can receive proper treatment,” she told KTLA.
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