Councilman Wants To Pause Construction In High-Risk Fire Zones

LOS ANGELES, CA — Councilman David Ryu introduced a motion to pause hillside construction in areas designated by the Los Angeles Fire Department as extreme fire hazards. Under the motion, construction, demolition, hauling and similar operations would be stopped until November 30.

"This is a fire season like no other in our history, and Los Angeles is at unprecedented risk," Ryu said. "We must halt construction in our fire- sensitive neighborhoods and keep evacuation routes safe, if we want to prevent fires locally while our resources are already strained."

The ordinance would apply to both the hillside and the zones where properties are located on streets with a single point of entrance and exit, on substandard streets, or where LAFD response time is seven minutes or more, Ryu said.

The LAFD's "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone" includes Griffith Park, Topanga State Park, Hollywood Hills and Beverly Glen among other areas. Council District 4, which Ryu represents, has endured four brush fires in just the last two weeks.

City News Service and Kenan Draughorne contributed to this report.