Encampment fire in south Los Angeles raises issue of city's response to homelessness

Photo by Vadim Sadovski on Unsplash

On the morning of Friday, April 2, an encampment fire blazed on S Flower St and W 92nd St in south Los Angeles. Firefighters were called to the scene and local resident video footage shows them assessing the fire.

This is the second fire at an encampment of unhoused people this month. Another fire took place on 98th St earlier in March.

The fire’s billowing smoke could be seen from the side of the 110-Southbound.

This area is notorious for fires, with reports of a man starting a fire in late 2020, car blazes, and other occurrences.

This fire sparked further discussion on the state of Los Angeles’s response to homelessness and whether the city is making the right decision in allowing these encampments to exist.

Some believe the city should clear out unhoused people or tighten restrictions on drug use.

Others believe many unhoused people are mentally ill and need specialized help, that they are incapable of self-care nor self-regulation.

In 2019 fire incidents in Los Angeles were down to 7,109 from 8,574 (2018) and 8,315 (2017), according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s statistical summary.

Will it be revealed that fires have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

It is very likely this is the case, but further information is needed. The next statistical summary should come out in 2022.

For now, if the unhoused remain in Los Angeles, it would be proactive for the city to provide fire safety information or devices to these communities.

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