Fire Official Defends Need for Inspection Fee

Without a controversial new fee, city firefighters would be unable to inspect all the properties this year that pose brush fire hazards, a top official said Tuesday.

“Without it, I don’t know what we’ll do,” said Capt. Paul Quagliata of the Los Angele Fire Department. Only 80% of properties that needed inspection last year were inspected.

“Not enough time and not enough people,” Quagliata said.

The number of inspectors is supposed to double this year, thanks to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s new $13 brush clearance inspection fee. However, the City Council voted earlier this month to suspend collection of the fee until details could be ironed out.

Some observers of the April 13 city primary said that an abrupt and confusing letter announcing the new fee played a part in the defeat of a proposed police and fire bond issue.

Fire officials next week are expected to submit to a City Council committee the draft of a new letter that would be sent to property owners. The letter will include answers to some of the commonly asked questions about the program.

Under the fee program, 180,000 property owners in the hazard areas would be billed for the $13-per-parcel fee unless they can prove brush has been cleared. Proof required is a picture of the cleared area and a notarized statement that the work has been done. Random inspections would be conducted periodically to confirm such self-inspections. New regulations push the brush clearance requirement from 100 to 200 feet.