A recent report highlights that nearly one-third of fires in Los Angeles over the past six years involved homeless individuals. According to a memo from Interim Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Ronnie Villanueva, the surge in calls related to homelessness is straining the department’s resources. The memo, originally intended for discussion at Tuesday’s LAFD Commission meeting, shows that 32.91% of fires responded to by the department involved a member of the homeless community.
The report also indicates a significant increase in rubbish fires, which have surged by 475% over the last decade. Nearly half of these fires involve people experiencing homelessness. This rise in fire incidents has contributed to longer response times, as the department struggles with limited resources.
Freddy Escobar, president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “We don’t want to criminalize homelessness, but we need additional resources strictly for homelessness.” The LAFD’s budget for the fiscal year 2024/2025 was approximately $837 million, compared to the city’s $961 million allocation for homelessness.
The memo’s discussion was postponed to next month’s commission meeting. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is expected to release her proposed budget soon. Her spokesperson, Zach Seidl, stated, “We are shattering the status quo to solve homelessness and get people off the streets for good.”
The LAFD’s challenges are compounded by recent leadership changes. Former Chief Kristin Crowley was dismissed by Mayor Bass due to alleged leadership failures during January’s fires. Crowley has appealed her termination, and the City Council is set to review her case. The department is currently led by Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran.
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