Sacramento (CA) Residents Angry Over Lack of Response to Homeless Fires

According to a report from CBS13, burned sidewalks, singed tree trunks, and all the other burned leftovers in Sacramento, California’s, Alkali Flat neighborhood have certain residents angry and worried.

Recently, resident Francine Jackson called 911 to report a fire burning on a sidewalk. When Sacramento City Fire (SCF) arrived on scene, she said they did not stop; they simply drove around the corner and left.

Soon after, Jackson said two police officers arrived and told her that sidewalk fires were perfectly legal and to contact city council if she had an issue. After doing so, she attended the city council meeting this past Tuesday night.

Another area resident, Ian McWherter, had cellphone video of the fires and, when informing officials of the issue, received the same response: they’re legal.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said at the city council meeting that the fires were indeed not legal, and whoever was telling residents that needed to be corrected.

Meanwhile, SCF also said that it was up to the responding company officer to decide if a fire must be extinguished or is being tended to in a safe manner while following city ordinance.

SCF told local media that, although it’s for them to determine the safety of the fires, the homeless’ sidewalk fires “are prohibited,” especially if they are being set in a reckless manner.

Jackson said the issue will now be taken up by the city manager’s office, which is now planning a meeting with city police and fire to clear up the legalities of homeless fires, and which should result in releasing a memo to the public and city leaders that will cite transparency.

CORRECTION (11/4/2022): A previous version of this story attributed the fire in question to Sacramento Metro Fire.

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