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JUNKYARD IN FIRE ZONE - Warning lights went off starting late Friday afternoon in the 4900 block of Rangeview Avenue, located in the Northeast Los Angeles area.
One homeowner observed two males cutting down branches of a once beautiful, overgrown Bottlebrush tree in front of a single-family home at 4949 Rangeview Avenue.
This home is on the front lot of a three-parcel plot of land that was recently sold in June of this year.
Moments later, the same homeowner observed one of the males, who appeared to be a gardener, relieving himself next to the side of a small parked panel truck. When confronted, the male stated he was only coughing up liquid from his mouth. Within minutes, the gardeners drove off.
The homeowner then hosed down the liquid deposited on the street and curb directly in front of their home.
The following day, a U-Haul truck was observed driving up the small incline driveway leading to the single-family home at 4949 Rangeview Avenue.
Two males were seen unloading the U-Haul truck and discarding the items around the yard. The truck left and returned again 15 to 20 minutes later.
Several neighbors also observed a small, older model black panel truck with an open back bed driving up the driveway, hauling items that appeared to be junk.
As with the U-Haul truck, the items were removed and deposited onto the vacant grounds. This truck also returned several times during the day, arriving every 15 to 20 minutes. It appeared the items were being transported from a nearby location to 4949 Rangeview Avenue.
On Sunday morning, it became evident that the new residents of 4949 Rangeview Avenue were using the location as a dumping area for old discarded items, junk, and other potentially hazardous materials.
This residence is in a fire zone, and the previous owners had completed mandated brush clearance twice this year.
When the new male resident was confronted about the dumping of discarded items, including furniture, he explained that he had to leave his former residence within two days and took everything with him.
When asked why he did not leave the items on the curb of his former residence and notify the City of Los Angeles to pick them up, he did not respond.
When asked why he discarded the items on the ground in a fire zone instead of the curbside of 4949 Rangeview Avenue, he responded that it would make the street look ugly and that he had a bad back.
The male was notified that he could not dispose of junk in a fire zone. When asked for his name, he refused and walked away.
Later, our local Northeast Los Angeles photographer and I walked up the driveway and took several photos of the discarded junk and debris.
A female exited the location and started yelling, "This is my property, and you can't be here." I explained that we were only taking photos of the illegally dumped items. I also informed her that this was a fire zone area, and she could be held responsible for causing a fire. She took out her camera and stated she was taking pictures of us and would call the police. I responded that both LAPD and LAFD had already been notified.
When I notified LAPD and LAFD via telephone, text, and email, I did not request an immediate response, as it was not an emergency.
I also sent an email to our CD 14 field deputy, Cynthia Cruz, who responded that she would contact the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety.
On Sunday, copies of the photos depicting the discarded junk and debris were sent to LAPD, LAFD, and CD 14 field deputy Cynthia Cruz.
Within 20 minutes, two uniformed LAPD officers responded to 4949 Rangeview Avenue and communicated with the female resident. The officers then made contact with me. I acknowledged that I had walked up the driveway to take photos of the dumped items and informed the officers that the photos had already been sent to LAPD and LAFD. I also provided the names of my contacts at both departments and mentioned that CD 14 had been notified.
The female officer stated that a resident or homeowner has the legal right to discard junk on their property. The question remains whether the female who confronted me is one of the new owners or a renter.
I showed the officers a copy of a news article dated July 17, 2024, written by Josh Haskell, which reported that the City of LA, after three years of complaints, took steps to clear out a massive junkyard property in La Tuna Canyon. The property owner was arrested and cited for failing to clean up the junk.
The La Tuna Canyon location is also a high fire zone area. The city is now cleaning up the massive junkyard at the taxpayers' expense.
Less than two weeks after Councilwoman Rodriguez visited the La Tuna Canyon location, there was a brush fire in another area of La Tuna Canyon, causing one eastbound lane of the 210 freeway to be closed.
On Monday, August 5, 2024, LAFD Chief Hardaway responded to the Rangeview location and communicated with the residents at 4949 Rangeview Avenue. They promised that the discarded junk and trash would be removed by Tuesday evening.
However, as of Wednesday, August 7, 2024, junk and other discarded items remain on the property.
Homeowners on both sides of 4949 Rangeview Avenue are concerned about the extreme heat conditions potentially causing a vegetation fire due to the discarded debris.
The residents of 4949 Rangeview Avenue have moved much of the discarded items away from view, but the problem persists.
LAFD Chief Hardaway stated he would return to check if the residents had moved the items.
The residents of 4949 Rangeview Avenue could receive a written citation for their negligent behavior.
An inquiry will be made to ascertain the current owners of the property. If the residents are not the rightful owners, the actual owners will be contacted and informed of the situation.
Many neighbors have expressed their appreciation for the excellent response by LAPD, LAFD, and CD 14.
One neighbor, a homeowner, is a Captain with a neighboring city fire department.
Most of the residents on the 4900 block of Rangeview Avenue have lived there for over twenty years and are close-knit, helping each other in times of need and emergencies.
(Caroline Aguirre is a retired 24-year State of California law enforcement officer, LAPD family member, community activist and Neighborhood Watch captain. Aguirre is a CityWatch contributor.)
