Altadena Fire Survivors Worry About Squatters on Burned Properties

Viral Video Sparks Squatter Concerns in Altadena

• 🚨 A viral video posted by a contractor claims squatters have taken over two properties in Altadena, located in areas previously affected by the Eaton Fire.
• 🏠 Residents are worried about people setting up camp on charred properties, with one man stating he is now living next to his family's lot, and another trailer across the street is fenced off.

Conflicting Reports on Squatting Situation

• 🧐 The contractor, Luke Meltchure, confronted a man neighbors believe to be trespassing, and his video gained hundreds of thousands of views, suggesting property owners cannot remove trespassers.
• 👮 The LA County Sheriff's Department disputes the viral video's claims, stating that the individuals in question were residents of Altadena prior to the Eaton Fire.
• 💬 A member of the LA County Sheriff's Department also stated off-camera that while the two properties from the Instagram video are in question, they have responded to a handful of squatters in Altadena since the fire in January.

Broader Squatting Issues in California

• ⚖️ California Governor candidate Steve Hilton believes squatting is a massive problem across the state, suggesting the system seems to favor those who do wrong.
• ⚠️ Homeowners are attempting to deter squatters by adding private property and no trespassing signs, expressing frustration over the difficulty in removing individuals from their property.
• 📢 LA Councilwoman Tracy Park shared a video addressing similar concerns in Pacific Palisades, while LA County Supervisor Katherine Barger's office reported no calls or complaints from Eaton Fire constituents about squatters on private property.