A helicopter was circling Temescal Canyon Park. The photo was taken from the Methodist Church.
Residents who live near Temescal Canyon Road, the El Medio or Via de las Olas bluffs or other areas that are adjacent to heavy brush were waken around 6 a.m. this morning.
The helicopter was using a spotlight and some residents wondered if there was a police chase.
Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness member Sharon Kilbride sent an email to Circling the News explaining “Starting at 6 a.m. this morning LAPD and five of our PPTFH volunteers will be canvassing all of the hillside areas looking for homeless camps.”
A red flag alert for Santa Ana winds goes into effect today and lasts until 3 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, October 11.
As a preventative measure, Kilbride explained that “there will be a helicopter with a heat sensor looking for camps and people in the hills of the Palisades.”
Thanks to PPTFH and LAPD for taking these steps to prevent homeless fires.
Kilbride and Vlietstra Clean Up Homeless Encampment
A homeless camp is filled with litter and trash. Photo: Sharon Kilbride
While on “patrol” this morning Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness members Sharon Kilbride and Dede Vlietstra cleaned up an encampment in the Castellammare area. Kilbride won a Citizen of the Year award and Vlietstra won a Golden Sparkplug for their work with the homeless, including enforcement and cleanup.
Area is restored to a litter-free habitat.
Photo: Sharon Kilbride
BRUSH CLEARANCE STALLED NEAR HIGHLANDS PLAZA
Another area that has not been properly cleared of brush is east of the Palisades Highlands Village, along Sunset Boulevard and in the canyon that runs below Marquez School.
Sharon Kilbride sent a note to LAFD Fire Inspector Dwight Sankey that the property had been inspected (September 20) and posted by LAFD for brush clearance, but is non-compliant.
“The Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness has written to the owners for years to clean up the four abandoned encampments on this property and we have had no response,” she said. “We were asked this morning to canvas all hillside encampments looking for homeless in high fire zones due to the red flag alert.”
Kilbride noted that the property is a constant liability because of the overgrown brush and the abandoned camp materials.
This area is private property and needs to be cleaned and brush cleared by owners. Photo: Sharon Kilbride