Opinion: Housing for homeless could have spared L.A. the Skirball fire

To the editor: I wish I could be surprised that the Skirball fire that burned parts of affluent Bel-Air originated in a homeless encampment near the 405 Freeway. (“Bel-Air wrestles with homeless crisis after encampment fire destroys multimillion-dollar homes,” Dec. 13)

Over the last 20 years, I have cycled extensively on bike trails along rivers in both Northern and Southern California. I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of these encampments, from the sporadic few tents to the now extensive tent cities that house hundreds of people.

I’ve also witnessed the public debate, which resists addressing these obvious problems due primarily to cost. At this point, how can we continue failing to provide comprehensive health, housing and social services for homeless people?

The expense of firefighting and rebuilding burned homes must surely dwarf what it would cost our society to take action on homelessness.

Philip Foreman, Laguna Woods

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To the editor: I am a frequent hiker in Griffith Park. Homeless encampments are all over that area and sometimes along the L.A. River adjacent to Atwater Village.

Evidence of the use of fire is present. A few years ago I spotted a person camping off a park trail near Griffith Observatory. I reported him to the park rangers and he was removed, cooking equipment included.

As shown by the Skirball fire and other documented incidents, homeless people create fire hazards, threatening the lives and property of thousands. This is not a place for naive tolerance for homeless people despite their plight; it is an important public safety issue.

Homeless people must be removed from and kept out of certain areas. Fires can start at any moment, so action must be taken now.

Mike Miller, Los Angeles

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To the editor: As the saying goes, for want of a nail the kingdom was lost.

Our hillsides have burned because of our lack of policies to address housing, homelessness, jobs and mental health. The spark of a campfire by tent people living under freeway underpasses and in the shadows of mansions or compounds the size of hotels connects us in ways we only now begin to understand.

Water-dropping aircraft may put out the flames, but when we ignore the buildup, we face economic and environmental devastation.

Judith Serlin, Los Angeles

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