L.A. City ignored fire safety as it permitted development in high risk areas, lawsuit alleges

"The regulations require wide, flat roads with only short dead-end offshoots to ensure easy evacuation for residents and easy access for fire crews in fire-prone areas. They also require strategic fuel breaks to slow the progression of flames, standardized fire hydrants and water sources to aid the firefight, and when practical, at least 30 feet between buildings and the property lines to limit the spread of fire between homes."

"The City of Los Angeles repeatedly ignored state wildfire safety regulations as it permitted new development in areas with severe fire hazards, a lawsuit filed Dec. 23 in the L.A. County Superior Court alleges. The lawsuit, brought by the State Alliance for Firesafe Road Regulations and the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Associations, provided 75 examples of building permits and other plans approved by the city that the lawsuit alleges violate requirements known as the state's "minimum firesafe regulations.""

"L.A. City repeatedly approved development in fire-prone areas in violation of state standards for safe evacuation and firefighter access, the lawsuit alleges. The city has a long history of struggling to adopt and enforce wildfire safety regulations. Resident groups and fire safety watchdogs have made natural allies against loosening regulations in high-risk areas, complicating the debate around California's housing crisis."

A lawsuit filed Dec. 23 alleges the City of Los Angeles repeatedly ignored state wildfire safety regulations while approving development in high fire-hazard areas. Plaintiffs presented 75 examples of permits and plans that allegedly violate the state's "minimum firesafe regulations." The regulations require wide, flat roads with few dead ends, strategic fuel breaks, standardized hydrants and water sources, and when practical, 30-foot spacing between buildings and property lines. In 2021 the legislature extended the rules to include "very high" hazard zones within cities. Watchdogs and resident groups say enforcement is inconsistent and resist loosening safety rules amid housing pressures.

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