As Malibu remains on high alert more than 9 months after the deadly Palisades Fire, the city is clamping down on fire threats, including homeless encampments, especially when moisture levels drop and Santa Ana winds kick up during the traditional fire season between October and December. The latest emergency order went into effect at the end of September, giving city officials the authority to temporarily move homeless people out of the jurisdiction.
The city enacted the policy in 2021 to allow city officials to declare a local emergency and take extra steps to tackle fire hazards when fire conditions worsen, including stepping up enforcement of homeless encampments. “(The emergency order) enables us to move a little faster because of the urgency,” Malibu’s Public Safety Director Susan Duenas said. “We can’t wait three days, five days, if we’re having Santa Ana winds, red flag weather.”
