Overview
- An early-morning fire that started around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday damaged a neighbor’s garage and drove firefighters to wake nearby residents as flames threatened adjacent homes.
- Neighbors say the vacant, privately owned lot had been occupied by unhoused people and reported for trash, trespass and safety risks for years, and the property owner could not be reached.
- The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety declared the site hazardous and ordered debris removal, installed temporary fencing and plans a permanent perimeter fence with abatement and possible demolition work.
- Councilmember Nithya Raman says her office flagged the address to the mayor’s office in November and repeatedly escalated the case, while Mayor Karen Bass says she first learned of the site from TV coverage and then directed city departments to act.
- Officials said they will review how nuisance properties are reported and prioritized, and neighbors who must repair damaged property say the incident underscores gaps in the city’s Vacant Building Abatement process and local response systems.