Sun Valley family says neighbor’s trash is putting their lives in danger

A Sun Valley family said a neighbor’s property overflowing with junk is putting their lives in danger.

There are about six acres of trash, beat-up vehicles, old car batteries, a shipping container, an ambulance, and other trash and debris near Elena Malone’s home. She told KNX News’ Karen Adams it’s been a problem since her family moved in three years ago.

“Almost immediately when we moved in, we started to see trash building up outside of our gate. So not on this property owner's property, but outside of the property,” Malone said.

There have already been several fires on her neighbor’s property. Malone is concerned that if there’s another fire, like the 2017 La Tuna Fire, her family will be trapped.

“The firefighters have been very good when there is a fire, but they cannot access the property with their truck,” Malone said. “They have to carry the hoses by foot onto the property because there's so much junk.”

Malone explained that she’s been getting the run-around about clearing the main road that can take her family to safety in the event of a fire.

“It was a fire road and is still a fire [road] according to some people, or is not a fire road according to some other people,” Malone said.

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She noted the Los Angeles Fire Department said they don’t maintain fire roads, but that L.A. County Fire does. Then, Malone said, L.A. County Fire claimed they don’t maintain that fire road until L.A. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez tells them they should reopen it.

“Monica Rodriguez says she doesn't want to do anything with this because it's a private property,” Malone said.

She claims the man who stays on the property is a mentally ill hoarder whose elderly mother went to jail for a stint over the property.

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