Malibu Ends State Of Emergency Over Encampment Fire Risk

MALIBU, CA — The city of Malibu on Jan. 9 ended its state of emergency over the fire risk associated with homeless encampments, after recent rains improved local weather conditions and fire risk in the city.

The local area's live fuel moisture level improved in the county's Dec. 22, 2022 report, the city said.

According to the Fire Safe San Mateo, live fuel moisture levels measure if and how quickly vegetation would burn in a wildfire. Vegetation or "fuel" with a higher moisture content reduces fire risk.

Given the state of emergency was declared based on increased fire risk, the emergency thus ended after rains swept over Southern California and improved conditions.

Malibu declared its most recent local emergency for the fire risk associated with homeless encampments in September 2022, at which point the live fuel moisture level was near "critical."

The city declared its first similar state of emergency just a year before in August 2021, prohibiting camping in any areas designated as very high fire hazard severity zones by Cal Fire, which includes most of the Malibu coast.

In 2021 the city had 23 fires related to encampments, Public Safety Manager Susan Dueñas said. In 2022, as the number of individuals experiencing homelessness decreased in Malibu, the number of encampment-related fires dropped to four, she said.

"With the potential for a devastating fire season, it was critical for the City to move with
urgency to reduce the risk of fire to protect the community," said a city staff report. It is also required "that the governing body proclaim the termination of the local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant."

The motion passed 4-1, with Mayor Bruce Silverstein voting no due to Malibu's continual fire risk.

"I believe that we live in a perpetual state of fire emergency in Malibu — 24/7, 365 days a year," Silverstein said.

Multiple public commenters brought up the issue again on Jan. 23, expressing concern over a fire in Tuna Canyon on Jan. 21 that started at an encampment, according to Dueñas. The city is working to handle that particular incident, Dueñas said.

Such policy is a balancing act, Dueñas said. She told Patch that fire safety is a legitimate concern for Malibu, and encampment fires were a particular issue in 2021.

In addition, the city has helped place many people experiencing homelessness into short-term and permanent housing, and the risk associated with fire fluctuates year-round, Dueñas said. A cyclical emergency declaration triggered by weather conditions would make sense for the city and has been considered before, Dueñas said.

The city is primarily interested in doing its part in helping unhoused people find housing and appreciating the diversity of circumstance among those experiencing homelessness, Dueñas said.