Brief

Councilmember Tim McOsker introduced this motion, seconded by Katy Yaroslavsky, to examine how often the LAFD responds to fires on California Department of Transportation property within LA city limits. The motion focuses on rubbish and vegetation fires specifically and appears designed to document the frequency and nature of these responses. It was referred to the Public Safety Committee on the date of introduction and remains pending there.

Full summary

This motion, introduced by Councilmember Tim McOsker and seconded by Katy Yaroslavsky, responds to a pattern of recurring rubbish and vegetation fires within Caltrans right-of-way areas — freeway-adjacent corridors and restricted infrastructure zones not intended for public access. The immediate catalyst was a fire inside an access portal beneath Interstate 110 in the Wilmington and San Pedro area that forced a full freeway closure, raising concerns about structural damage, traffic disruption, and whether the public received timely safety notifications. McOsker argues that Caltrans has failed to adequately secure, monitor, and maintain its assets, leaving the city to absorb the operational and financial consequences. The motion directs the City Administrative Officer and LAFD, coordinating with Caltrans and CAL FIRE, to produce a data analysis covering the total number and frequency of LAFD rubbish and vegetation fire responses over the past three years and through fiscal year 2025-2026, broken down to identify what share occurred within Caltrans right-of-way. Separately, the CAO and Chief Legislative Analyst — working with the City Attorney and LAFD — are directed to report on the estimated personnel and response costs attributable to those Caltrans incidents, the legal feasibility and process for seeking reimbursement from Caltrans, CAL FIRE, or another state entity, and whether any existing interagency cost-sharing agreements could be renegotiated to reduce the city's exposure. A third directive asks Caltrans directly to report on whether it operates or participates in any encampment resolution programs within its right-of-way, including coordination with local jurisdictions, and to detail the policies, resources, and outcomes of those efforts — an implicit acknowledgment that encampments in freeway underpasses and adjacent areas are a contributing factor to fire frequency. The motion was referred to the Public Safety Committee on May 6, 2026, the day it was introduced, and no further action has been recorded. It remains pending in committee and is set to expire on May 6, 2028.

Activity (1)

• 2026-05-06 Motion referred to Public Safety Committee.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-06 Motion · motion