"In 2024, we had 452 fires in the Sepulveda Basin, which is about a 2,000-acre area. But, the majority of our fires all fell within a 600-acre portion of the park," said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore.
Officials say many of these fires are often sparked near homeless encampments. Neighbors say they're worried one of the smaller fires could turn into a major wildfire, threatening nearby homes.
"It's scary what's happening. It's just like an everyday occurrence when there's fires every day across the streets from your house," said a nearby resident of the area.
Last month, there was a fire inside a drainage tunnel at a homeless encampment. During another brush fire, a propane tank at an encampment exploded -- severing a firefighter's ear.
"It highlighted and brought to our attention just how dangerous these encampments were and what we needed to do. So, we changed our tactics -- more defensive operations, not so aggressive. We fight the fire from a distance, surround it and be able to get water on it," said Moore.
He added that thick vegetation, illegal dumping and encampments once made large portions of the basin nearly inaccessible. Now, crews are aggressively clearing brush and dry grass between the 405 Freeway and Balboa Boulevard. It's a battle to keep this area clean and safe.
"This is vegetation management in process right here. What the crew is doing is they're limbing trees and any ladder fuels. Ladder fuels are fuels on the ground that transition upward into trees or palm trees and can create ember cast," said LAFD Battalion Chief Robert Barna.
Multiple agencies have also stepped in, bringing in L.A. Homeless Services to rehouse people and the L.A. Conservation Corps to assist with cleanup.
"The vegetation here was so thick that you couldn't see the other side of the channel. There was five stolen vehicles that were abandoned in there that were pieced. There was encampments all throughout this whole area," said Moore. This meant that resources were coming here frequently for medical calls, overdoses and fires.
"They were running here about seven calls a day, a day. Now, they might run seven calls a week. That's how much it's diminished," said Moore. The most gratifying news for him is that after years of this area basically being off limits, the improvements are now allowing the community to safely return to the basin.
"You have the local schools where the kids are running in here, and their cross-country teams are using this as a practice site. You see people who are going for a walk because now they can see the Encino Creek. They actually can walk along the creek," said Moore.