6.4-Mile Section of Mulholland to Close at Night : Road Gates Also Will Be Shut When Fire, Floods Threaten

Citing the potential for brush fires in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to close a 6.4-mile stretch of Mulholland Drive to vehicles at night and during potential flood and fire periods.

The unimproved stretch of Mulholland from Woodland Hills to Encino is a notorious gathering spot for displaced lovers, rowdy teen-agers, off-road enthusiasts and others who routinely start campfires and ignite fireworks along the brush-lined mountain road, according to police and fire officials.

While no serious fires have been started on the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains near Mulholland in recent years, fire officials praised the council’s decision.

“We’ve had people purposely start fires up there,” Assistant Fire Chief Alan Schroeder said after the council vote. “We don’t want people up there.”

A temporary barricade will close off the road for the Fourth of July holiday, and a permanent gate should be installed in the next month.

According to police and environmentalists, the road is also a popular site for the illegal dumping of construction material, used furniture, trash, stolen cars and, on one occasion, a murder victim.

“This will make things a lot quieter up there for everyone involved,” said Los Angeles Police Capt. Val Paniccia, commanding officer of the West Valley Division, which helps patrol the road.

The most serious crime reported in the area occurred when the body of a man was left on a fire road near Mulholland. Investigators said he had been executed by two partners in a burglary who became angry with him after a dispute over the division of profits.

The burglars were convicted of murder and are serving life terms in prison, detectives said.

Because of the late-night activity on the dusty stretch of road, Paniccia said West Valley police have had to boost patrols of Mulholland Drive, particularly in the hot summer months when crowds increase.

The section of road to be gated is adjacent to property owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

Under the council’s action, the conservancy will install gates at Encino Hills Drive above Encino and Santa Maria Road in Woodland Hills. The gates will be locked at night and when fire officials determine that the chances of a brush fire and rain are high.

Outdoor humidity, temperature and wind speeds will help firefighters identify those periods when fire danger is highest and the gate should be locked, fire officials said.

Schroeder said fire officials asked that the road be closed when the chances of rain are high because the road is routinely torn up by off-road vehicles after rain, making the road difficult for firetrucks to travel.

Councilman Marvin Braude, whose district includes the stretch of road, called the decision sensible and said he has heard of no complaints from constituents about the proposed gates.

Schroeder and Paniccia do not believe that the gates will put an end to the late-night mischief, but they hope that they will keep vehicles out during periods of high fire danger.

Hikers, joggers and bicycle riders will still be allowed on the road even when the gates are closed.

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Restricting Mulholland Drive The city will close off Mulholland Drive with gates between Santa Maria Road and Encino Hills Drive. That portion of the road would be closed at all times during fire season and at night the rest of the year.