Mayor Cuts Red Tape to Ease Brush Clearing Effort
Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan issued a “declaration of urgent necessity” Friday to help the Fire Department in its efforts to clear brush as this year’s fire season draws near.
The declaration will allow the Fire Department to temporarily waive requirements for competitive bids in hiring contractors to remove overgrown vegetation.
Fire Chief William Bamattre said the declaration will open the potential field of contractors to include those not currently certified by the city. The department has said that it has been limited in how fast in can clear brush because only a small number of certified contractors do the work.
“It’s cutting red tape and doing what’s in the interest of public safety,” said Riordan’s spokeswoman, Noelia Rodriguez.
Earlier this month, fire officials announced that about 8,000 property owners still had not complied with the city’s ordinance to remove brush from within 200 feet of structures.
The city has the authority to hire contractors to do the work when homeowners don’t.
“Nov. 1 is not that far away,” said Rodriguez, referring to a time of year when dryness and winds are most likely to coincide, boosting the fire danger.
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