City OKs Funds to Clear Brush in Fire-Prone Areas

The Los Angeles City Council approved $1.8 million in emergency funds Friday to help the city Fire Department clear brush in fire-prone hillside areas.

The council passed the measure by a 10-0 vote, granting a request by fire officials who have said brush clearance was slowed this year by heavy rains, ample vegetation growth and a change in rules that requires larger areas to be cleared.

“This is what I’ve been needing to enhance and make this program more effective,” said Fire Marshal Jimmy Hill.

Hill said he expected “a tremendous increase in work,” thanks to the extra funding, and predicted the money would bring close to 100% compliance.

“It is a very important step in terms of giving the Fire Department the resources it needs for right now,” said City Councilwoman Laura Chick.

Hill said the additional funds, earmarked for eight new employees, including six inspectors, and for contracts, will be used to prepare about 6,000 properties by the end of October.

The council action marked a conclusion, for now, to the brush-clearance controversy, which developed after sweeps earlier this year revealed that thousands of property owners had not complied with the ordinance, raising concerns of increased fire danger.

Property owners in fire-prone mountain areas are required to clear brush on their properties within 200 feet of structures due to a recent change in codes. The old rules required only a 100-foot clearance.

The city clears brush using contractors in cases where property owners have failed to do it on their own, then bills the landowner.

In a related action, the council balked at splitting costs of $165,000 to get brush cleared from lands owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which, as a state agency, is not required to follow the city’s ordinance.

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The council instead approved a suggestion by City Councilman Hal Bernson that the Fire Department clear the conservancy’s property, bill the conservancy, and take the agency to court if it doesn’t pay.

Conservancy officials questioned whether the city would have legal authority to force payment of the bill.

And Hill also said the conservancy motion could be problematic, since the city has little jurisdiction over a state agency.

“We are going to have to go back and revisit this conservancy thing. We don’t have power over them, they have power over us,” he said.