Mayor Bass Announces Suspects Arrested for Arson in the Sepulveda Basin

En Español

한국어

Part of Ongoing, Comprehensive Strategy to Make the Basin Safer and Cleaner

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass announced that two suspects were arrested on charges of setting fires in the Sepulveda Basin and the San Fernando Valley. The Park Rangers from the Department of Recreation and Parks Department made the arrests in coordination with the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson Investigation Unit. Mayor Bass and Councilmember Imelda Padilla are leading an ongoing, comprehensive strategy to make the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Center safer and cleaner. LAFD has reported a significant decrease in the call volume for fires in the Sepulveda Basin since these efforts began.

"We have been executing a coordinated and comprehensive strategy in partnership with Councilmember Imelda Padilla in the Sepulveda Basin that is first and foremost about public safety," said Mayor Karen Bass."From holding people accountable who commit crimes of arson to outreaching to people experiencing homelessness, we are using every available tool to make the Sepulveda Basin recreation area and surrounding neighborhoods safer and cleaner for all."

"Addressing the unique challenges of the Sepulveda Basin requires strong leadership and unified action from the entire city government" said Councilmember Imelda Padilla."I am proud to be working hand-in-hand with the Mayor's Office to marshal resources across critical departments like LAFD and Public Works, turning strategic plans into tangible results on the ground. This unprecedented intergovernmental effort is setting the foundation to restore the Basin's safety, environmental health, and accessibility for all our residents."

Launched in July, this is a new approach to addressing decades-old challenges in the Sepulveda Basin, 2,000 acres of recreation space and 600 acres of wild lands, owned by the federal government and primarily leased by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Mayor Bass' ongoing comprehensive strategy includes:

• Conducting homeless outreach and clearing encampments: The Mayor's Office is coordinating with LAHSA Homeless Engagement Teams to outreach to the homeless. Debris and discarded furniture from homeless encampments have been cleared by City Departments.
• Manage trees, brush and other vegetation to reduce fire risks: This vegetation management strategy opens up wooded areas by thinning and removing limbs of trees and removing non-native species to reduce vegetation more likely to spark and spread fire. Managing the brush also makes building encampments in the basin less desirable and the improved visibility within the trees assists with enforcing no-camping laws. Partner non-profits, including the LA Conservation Corps and Chrysalis have joined the effort.
  • LAFD specialized personnel known as hand crews began managing vegetation and making improvements to help reduce potential safety threats. Firefighters have removed hundreds of trees and 240 tons of debris near Hjelte Sports Complex. The field along Woodley Avenue and the 405 is being cleared by LAFD's Heavy Equipment Unit to further reduce safety threats.
  • Based on past community requests, the Bureau of Street Services, in conjunction with the LA Department of Transportation and LA Fire Department, conducted brush clearing along a stretch of Burbank Boulevard.
• State funding has been secured to make improvements: Through partnership with Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel secured new funding that was approved by Governor Newsom. The City will use the new funding through cleanliness and safety improvements within the basin.

Mayor Bass has been visiting the Sepulveda Basin and regularly meeting with community members to make sure that the City's solutions are effectively meeting the recreation area's needs. Her office is coordinating efforts with City agencies, LAHSA, nonprofit partners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.