Video: Venice Boardwalk Fire Burns At Ocean Front Walk Encampment

VENICE, CA — Another fire burned along the boardwalk early Saturday at the same location where a fire, explosion and shooting happened at a homeless encampment earlier this month. Residents are calling for action as the Palisades fire burns and asking for immediate solutions on the Westside.

A resident captured the incident on video at 1:15 a.m. Saturday near Ocean Front Walk and Sunset Avenue. No injuries were reported and firefighters put out the flames in a few minutes, neighbors said.

1:18-AM - Boardwalk encampment fire again at the same place as tent explosion last week. Can we please get the fast response vehicle we see during the day to cruise at night?@LAFDtalk @LAPDPacific @LauriePerez @NicoleCharky #Veniceisburning #help @FEMARegion9 @BoardwalkVenice pic.twitter.com/KgOaQbOvt6
— PurpleLionLeo (@purplelionleo) May 15, 2021

This is the same location where a 14-year-old Los Angeles child went missing and was found with help from community members and media, only to return to the area days later.

The boardwalk and Venice community has seen a rash of fires burning tents, homes, commercial buildings and vehicles over the last several months as the rising population of unhoused people has grown during the pandemic. At least 250 tents are along Ocean Front Walk, homeless advocates tell CBS.

Fires in Los Angeles related to homelessness have burned at a rate of about 24 fires per day in the first quarter of 2021, according to a recent report from the Los Angeles Times. They make up 54% of all the fires that the Los Angeles Fire Department responds to and the number of fires has tripled in the last three years, according to LAFD.

In the last year, five people have been killed in Venice, according to the LA Times Homicide Report. The homicides include John Anthony Decindis, 76, who died March 16 following an attack on Abbot Kinney. Ky Alicia Thomas, 28, who was shot and killed Jan. 5 near 1733 Ocean Front Walk. Kristian Fernando Ramos, 22, was stabbed and killed Sept. 1 near Mildred Avenue and Venice Boulevard. Christian Lopez, 21, and Armando Phillip Barba, 43, were shot and killed July 20 near 119 Lincoln Blvd. at the CVS.

The department last week added an LAFD Fast Response Team to help respond to the increased fires, which have been captured and documented on video and social media by residents. The move to add a fast response team aims to add a paramedic unit and water tank to the boardwalk and reduce anxiety for residents, but locals say it's not enough. The team is only there from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., although that could change.

LAFD cannot take stoves or stop people from cooking and using propane tanks along the boardwalk, officials say.

Residents have called on local leaders to help house people living on the boardwalk. Last week, the Los Angeles City Council Homelessness & Poverty Committee passed a motion to evaluate site feasibility and identify funding for potential projects at various Westside locations and help fight homelessness.

Several different interventions and projects were proposed by Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin, who represents District 11 and the communities of Venice, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, Westchester, Ladera, Del Rey, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and West Los Angeles/Sawtelle.

Bonin has proposed to add more homeless shelters, including "tiny homes" and "safe camping" sites in areas such as Los Angeles International Airport, Marina del Rey and Pacific Palisades. He submitted a motion March 31, calling on the city to push to end homelessness and sidewalk encampments.

Bonin released a statement to constituents last week urging for solutions and action to identify potential locations.

"What I am proposing is this: While we step up efforts to house people, the city should conduct a feasibility analysis of whether a number of different locations, including LAX land and three beach parking lots, could be used for different types of temporary emergency shelter. I have also asked that the feasibility analysis consider whether two local parks with existing encampments could restore the bulk of recreational space to public use by designating a certain area for existing unhoused residents. In all cases, the proposed solutions would provide security, sanitation and services, and focus on getting people into housing."

A number of residents have been critical of Bonin's plan, calling for a recall to remove him from office. As of Monday, nearly 11,500 people have signed a change.org petition on the proposed recall.

During a press conference on Palisades Fire updates, ongoing evacuations and an arson arrest, a group of protesters arrived to protest Bonin and the proposed safe camping and shelter sites. The councilmember thanked the firefighters for their work against the fire, speaking 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. The proposed plan also calls for adding a location at LAX, Lot 2 in Marina del Rey and at Dockweiler Beach.

During a news conference about the #PalisadesFire, protesters tried to shout down LA City Councilman #MikeBonin. They are angry over his proposal to temporarily house the homeless at parks and beaches ...and are pushing for a recall. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/8Bezbs8FoB
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) May 17, 2021

SEE MORE:

• House Fire Killed Family Dog; Cause Is Unclear, LAFD Says
• Venice Bakery Damaged, Cash Box Stolen During Break-In
• Palisades Fire Latest: Arson Arrest Made In Connection With Blaze