Los Angeles reports over 12,000 homeless-related fires this year

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has recorded 12,241 fires classified as ‘Homeless or Encampment Related’ between January 1 and September 20 of this year. Although this represents a 6% decrease compared to the same period last year, the city continues to average approximately 47 such fires every day.

Firefighters report that hotspots are concentrated in Skid Row and along the 10 Freeway corridor. Many of these incidents involve trash and rubbish fires, though officials noted they also occur due to cooking, warming, or other individual activities. In one specific section of Skid Row, data analysis identified 77 fires occurring so far this year.

To manage the high volume of small-scale blazes, the LAFD utilizes specialized Rapid Response Teams equipped with vehicles containing 200 gallons of water and 200 feet of hose. These crews aim to extinguish small fires, such as burning buckets or rubbish, before they escalate into larger emergencies.