'Homelessness Is Endangering Lives': Councilman On Palisades Fire

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Councilman Joe Buscaino is speaking out in the wake of the Palisades fire, which has charred 1,158 acres as of Tuesday afternoon. After authorities charged a 48-year-old homeless man with arson of a structure or forest in the wake of the flames, Buscaino released a statement saying the homelessness crisis is "destroying neighborhoods."

"This morning the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that the suspect in the Palisades fire has been charged with arson and was identified as a homeless individual," Buscaino said. "Our homelessness crisis is destroying neighborhoods and endangering the lives of the housed and unhoused. Over sixty percent of the fires that the LAFD has responded to this year have been related to homelessness."

Buscaino represents Los Angeles' 15th district, which includes San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway and neighboring communities. He was the only person on the City Council Homelessness & Poverty Committee to vote against Councilmember Mike Bonin's proposal to study the feasibility of placing homeless shelters at Will Rogers State Beach parking lot and other coastal areas.

"Allowing unregulated sprawling encampments is not compassionate, it's reckless," Buscaino continued. That's why we must act now on passing regulations that will return the rights of every Angeleno to enjoy our public spaces, and prohibit encampments whenever people are offered shelter. We must support safe and clean sidewalks, parks and beaches. We must support a livable city where we can raise our children without being subjected to rampant crime on our streets."

Buscaino announced in March he plans to run for Mayor of Los Angeles in 2022.

The Palisades fire is currently 32% contained. No buildings have been damaged, and aside from a firefighter who suffered a minor eye injury, no injuries have been reported.

The fire began about 10 p.m. Friday in a hard-to-access canyon area in a remote area off Michael Lane and Palisades Court, the LAFD reported.

"By 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, fire was estimated at 15 acres," Terrazas said. "Unfortunately, by 4:30 p.m., an additional burn area emerged north of the original fire. Within about one hour, the fire grew to 750 acres. By 1 p.m. [Sunday],the fire was estimated at 1,325 acres with zero percent containment. We do anticipate being on scene for the next several days until we achieve 100 percent containment."

On Saturday morning, LAFD helicopter pilots saw a man moving around in the brush along a steep hillside near the fire, and a Los Angeles Police Department air patrol was dispatched to the scene to monitor him. Police officers kept watch on the ground while the LAPD Air Support Division "provided eyes in the sky," the LAFD reported.

"During an aerial observation, the Tactical Flight Officer witnessed the individual ignite multiple additional fires," the LAFD said.

LAFD arson investigators requested assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Emergency Services Detail to locate the suspect.

"Deputies were lowered into the brush to begin their search," the LAFD reported. "Because the fires were growing rapidly, deputies were forced to retreat."

At about 11 a.m. Sunday, the man "emerged from the brush in the 1200 block of Palisades Drive," the LAFD reported.

"A private security officer in the area recognized the person as a possible suspect and notified LAPD and LAFD (and) police officers arrived and detained the suspect."

Terrazas said a fire this large sparking so early in the year amid relatively favorable conditions is an ominous sign for the 2021 fire season.

"[Sunday] when I woke up, it was raining out here," Terrazas said. "And the fire is still burning. That's unusual fire behavior. Our relative humidity was 60%, our wind speed was under 10 mph, but we still had an active fire. That tells you that the drought, the years that have gone by since the last fire, have changed the equation. We have to all work together."
Topanga Elementary Charter School, at 22075 Topanga School Road, remained closed Tuesday due to air quality and safety concerns caused by the Palisades fire, the Los Angeles Unified School District reported.

Councilmember Mike Bonin thanked the firefighters for their work against the fire during a Monday morning press conference with LAFD, although his words were hard to hear over boos and chants of "Recall Bonin" from people unhappy with his plan to turn part of Will Rogers State Beach parking lot into a secure campsite for homeless residents.

"We have had over the past several years a number of major fires here in the Santa Monica Canyons, in the hillsides of this district," Bonin said. "Each fire has been different, each fire has presented unique circumstances, and each time we have seen the men and women of LAFD and sister agencies take to the task with bravery, and steely determination."

READ MORE: Palisades Fire Latest: Arson Suspect Identified By LASD

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