More than 7 tons of trash removed from Fairfax District home so far, city says

FAIRFAX DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- More than seven tons of trash that has accumulated outside a Fairfax District home have been removed so far in a laborious cleanup operation, according to the city, and the work continues Thursday.

Fairfax District "trash house" sparks concern

The small mountain of garbage quickly became an eyesore on North Martel Avenue, just off Melrose Avenue, while prompting concerns from neighbors about the homeowner's well-being.

The property - which was covered almost entirely with hundreds of bags full of bottles, cans, clothing and other refuse -- is situated between two multimillion-dollar homes.

The matter prompted a visit from Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, along with Department of Public Works staffers.

Yaroslavsky said nearly one ton of the seven tons removed was comprised of flammable and hazardous materials.

"I'm just so concerned about the gentleman that lived in this situation," Bass said. "I'm horrified to think of what is happening inside that house."

The issue has been raising questions from residents who live in the area, including, "Why is the homeowner letting this happen?"

The small, single-story house on the property was surrounded by piles of trash, some stacked as high as 6 feet. Rats were seen scurrying around the yard.

"It's been getting worse and worse, and the smell's been getting really bad, and we've noticed more flies and insects," said neighbor Rebecca Yale.

Cleanup operation begins after city declares home health risk

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety declared the property an "imminent public safety and health risk" around noon on Wednesday, giving city crews the authority to remove the trash from the yard.

Aerial footage taken by AIR7 HD Wednesday showed at least nine workers shoveling the trash, bag by bag, and dumping it all into dumpsters. At one point, neighbors reported seeing rats and other rodents coming out of the home.

By Thursday morning, crews had already removed seven tons of garbage.

Sanitation crews were able to clean up the yard and driveway and even removed a vehicle under the city's order but were not granted access to the interior of the home. LAPD officers knocked, but the homeowner did not appear.

Yaroslavsky says the county is attempting to offer mental health services to the homeowner.

Neighbors fear homeowner suffers from mental health issues; sister speaks out

People who live in the area have expressed concern for the homeowner himself.

"Is anyone taking care of him? Because I'm worried about him," said Yale. "I assume that there's some mental health issues happening to have the house get to this point."

City records show the homeowner was fined eight years ago. Conditions at the location improved after that, then began to deteriorate about a year ago.

"I think it's just on a daily basis that the homeowner's just collecting things and putting them in the yard," Meyerhoff said.

The homeowner reportedly stays in an RV around the corner from the Fairfax District home, according to neighbors.

ABC7 spoke exclusively to the homeowner's sister, who lives nearby and was equally upset at the mess he's left.

"I would hope that he would get rid of it," she said. "Why else collect it?"

The homeowner's sister, Leah, says she and her brother have a strained relationship, but it wasn't always that way. She worries that without a long-term solution it's just a matter of time before it goes back to the condition it was in recently.

"Since I bought it at one time and gave it to him, I would really like to get it back so I can fix it," she said. "I can get it in good condition."