Hollywood Residents Fear Fires and Crime as Squatters Take Over Vacant Homes

Neighborhood Under Siege

• 📌 Residents in a Hollywood neighborhood are living in fear due to squatters occupying two vacant, boarded-up homes.
• ⚠️ Trespassers have been observed cutting fences, ignoring public access signs, and bringing drugs and weapons into the area.

Escalating Fire Danger

• 🔥 The primary concern for neighbors is the recent house fires, with two major blazes occurring this month, allegedly caused by squatters.
• 💡 Neighbors estimate that around 20 squatters were inside one of the homes during a recent fire, which may have been sparked by attempts to illegally tap into electricity.
• 🚒 The interim fire chief reports that approximately one-third of all LAFD fire calls involve the homeless population.

City Response and Nuisance Properties

• 🏢 An LA City Council District 13 spokesperson stated they are working with the Department of Building and Safety to declare the properties a nuisance.
• 🏗️ Declaring the properties a nuisance could allow the city to secure and potentially demolish the homes, with costs later billed to the property owner.
• 🚧 The situation highlights a recurring problem in neighborhoods across LA, with vacant buildings becoming targets for squatters.