Arson Fire at Former Church Displaces 27 Neighbors
I’ve lost track of how many of LA’s empty buildings have - intentionally or unintentionally - been damaged by or lost to fires. This blog is rife with far too many similar stories.
The subject of today’s entry, like most others, had a long-running problem with squatters and other trespassers.
You - yes, YOU - have a right to be concerned about that chronically empty building in your neighborhood, especially if it’s not secured very well. When it catches fire, it could displace your household. When it attracts illegal dumping, it could make your sidewalk impossible to use. When it attracts destructive squatters, your kids might find needles or human waste scattered in front of your house or apartment building.
Just a few days ago, a boarded-up former church in North Hills had a fire. A reliable source with LAFD contacts tells me “it’s definitely arson”, and a body was discovered in the rubble. One neighbor may have seen the fire being set.
The deceased’s identity and cause of death are either not yet known or have not yet been released to the public.
The church sat next to a four-story apartment complex built in 2019. While the fire could have spread to that complex, only three of the 41 units are yellow-tagged (meaning temporarily unsafe). Six adults, 21 children, and six pet turtles were displaced.
While the temporary displacement of 27 neighbors isn’t what I would call a good thing, this fire could very well have permanently displaced everyone in the complex if it had spread. The two buildings are VERY close to each other.
The building formerly housed El Redil Centro Cristiano. I’m pretty sure setting an arson fire is a serious sin.