(Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Westside Current today, January 14, and is reprinted with permission.)
Former LAPD Beach Patrol Officer Rusty Redican routinely patrolled areas in the hills, such as by the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir. This photo was taken on July 5, 2021.
By JAMIE PAIGE
Among the 26 motions introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park at Tuesday’s City Council meeting was a call to modernize Los Angeles fire stations and a request for immediate answers from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Fire Department. Representing Council District 11, which includes the Pacific Palisades, Park urged swift action to address the destruction caused by the recent wildfires.
Bolstering the Fire Department
Park highlighted the dire condition of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) infrastructure, noting that the department operates 106 fire stations across nearly 470 square miles. Half of these stations are over 50 years old, with 12 surpassing 70 years and four more than 80 years old. According to the General Services Department, repairing and upgrading a single station costs over $1 million. This estimate does not account for the need to expand fire stations citywide, as detailed in the department’s latest Standards of Coverage Report.
Despite rising demands, Park said the LAFD has faced chronic under funding. “In the last two budget cycles, the department requested $20 million annually for repairs but received only $7.8 million in fiscal year 2023-24 and no funding in fiscal year 2024-25,” Park noted in her motion, co-written with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, who represents the 7th District, encompassing the San Fernando Valley and large swaths of high fire danger zones also impacted by the wildfires, highlighted a long-standing issue in her district. She told the council that for two decades, her requests for an additional fire station have been denied.
Wildfires and Their Toll
The Pacific Palisades fire, one of five wildfires that erupted in Los Angeles County over the past week, has burned more than 23,000 acres and taken eight lives. The fire alone has damaged or destroyed approximately 5,000 structures, including 400 homes.
Park and Rodriguez’s motion calls for the City Administrative Officer, Chief Legislative Analyst, City Attorney, and the LAFD to deliver a report within 60 days. The report would outline a proposed ballot measure for the June 26 election to fund station repairs, maintenance, and the construction of new facilities to meet the fire department’s needs for the next 50 years.
Park invoked Rule 23 of the Los Angeles City Council to fast-track her motions, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis.
Infrastructure and Resource Concerns
Park introduced additional motions raising questions about whether the city had adequately supported the LAFD during the wildfires. Reports of hydrants running out of water and reservoirs failing to support firefighting efforts due to maintenance issues highlight critical vulnerabilities in the city’s water infrastructure.
The motions calls for an immediate report from the LAFD on its ability to handle wildfires of this scale, including challenges that may have hindered its efforts to protect life and property. “We have a lot to talk about when it comes to our fire department and our critical infrastructure,” Park said. “As a city, we owe it to our firefighters and Angelenos to fully understand what happened in this fire.”
Support for Displaced Residents
Park also requested a seven-day report addressing rent obligations for tenants displaced by the fire. The report would propose measures to relieve evacuees of rent payments for uninhabitable units and recommend reimbursement for rent already paid for destroyed properties.
Park called for an ad hoc committee to manage city, county, and federal relief efforts, from animal recovery to debris removal and infrastructure repair.
“As a city, our singular goal is to ensure that residents have the resources they need to rebuild their lives and come home,” Park said.
Someone needs to establish a plan for us to return to our homes, whether or not they are still standing, in an orderly manner. It took us two hours to reach the 405 last Tuesday on Sunset. There were no police anywhere on that route who could have facilitated things and perhaps reduced the drive time. The same thing will happen when we are let back in, chaos. Some sort of system needs to be set up NOW, by street address, or section on the village, or age, whatever, to make the return no more terrible that it is going to be for most of us.
Another pertinent FYI……… As many know, I personally did my part to overtly help the Homeless get off the streets…. But in doing so, I contracted Scabies, Staphylococcus, Lice and MRSA! Very serious hygiene issues! And potentially deadly with older people with other serious Comorbidities!
With that said…..
From a Governmental worker Intimately involved in the Palisades Fire Crisis!
“They are placing the fire evacuees with the homeless at Red Cross evac centers! It is disgusting!”
LAPD had multiple radio calls to the Westwood Rec center last night, do deal with homeless who were under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant.
These suspects are scaring our evacuated people so much so, that they don’t want to stay there.
The Red Cross has a policy to not refuse anyone, but now these local drug addicts are taking beds away from our fire evacuees….WTF!!!!!!! The Police and the Red-cross Aid workers, are VERY frustrated!
The Red Cross workers are OVERWHELMED by the Transients causing massive problems, with typical disorderly conduct, that’s drug induced!!!!!
The evacuees rather sleep in cars along sunset then go the the evac center! Which it 100% understandable!
This is EMBARRASSING and INFURIATING!
Los Angeles Mangers need to fix that ASAP!