Watch: Fire Breaks Out At Encampment On Venice Beach Boardwalk

VENICE, CA — A fire broke out at a homeless encampment on the Venice Beach boardwalk late Monday night, residents told Patch.

In a video captured by a neighbor @BoardwalkVeniceon Twitter, a man is seen walking toward a tent and encampment area around 9:37 p.m. on Ocean Front Walk, near Sunset Avenue. He throws some type of item and the tent becomes engulfed in flames. He stood by to watch as the flames grew.

People screamed and ran with buckets of water, dousing the flames with water and sand to put out the blaze. Residents told Patch they heard what sounded like an explosion sound.

This is one of many fires breaking out along the Venice area in recent months, worrying neighbors and leaving residents to call on local leaders to do something to stop the dangerous conditions along the boardwalk.

Last month a suspected arson fire killed a family dog, Togo, and badly damaged a bungalow in the alley of the 100 block of Clubhouse Avenue, near Pacific Avenue. In January, an arson fire destroyed a building along the boardwalk.

Watch the boardwalk fire in Venice:

Venice Beach Boardwalk - Monday May 3, 2021 9:37pm pic.twitter.com/IN9puoRvKv
— Venice Beach Boardwalk (@BoardwalkVenice) May 4, 2021

This is the guy who started the fire. pic.twitter.com/7XlOXs3zs5
— Venice Beach Boardwalk (@BoardwalkVenice) May 4, 2021

Editor's Note: Updated with comment from residents.

SEE MORE:

• Homeless Woman Gives Birth At Venice Beach Boardwalk
• $7K Reward Offered To Find Missing French Bulldog Melo
• Dog Killed In Bungalow Fire In Venice; Arson Suspected
• Bonin: 'Media Is Spreading Rumor Fire Started By Homeless'
• Firefighters Battle Fire Along Ocean Front Walk In Venice