Board moves forward on unsafe-camping ordinance; directs inclusion of wildfire-hazard provisions

The Board of Supervisors directed staff to include wildfire-hazard and public-safety language in the draft unsafe-camping ordinance the county is preparing. Supervisors noted that rural unincorporated areas face high wildfire risk and asked staff to ensure stakeholder outreach incorporates local firefighters, CAL FIRE, land managers and affected communities.

Supervisor Joel Anderson introduced the item with references to heightened wildfire risk in the county's unincorporated communities and recalled the Cedar Fire example. Public comment included both opponents to criminalization of homelessness and supporters urging action to reduce fire risk from open-camp fires and other hazards. Several speakers argued for housing-first solutions while others described safety risks for residents and first responders.

The board voted unanimously to direct staff to include wildfire-hazard provisions in the unsafe-camping ordinance under development and return with a draft; supervisors asked that staff continue robust stakeholder engagement across rural and urban communities. Staff noted that some existing codes and CAL FIRE authority already address unsafe ignition sources and that the ordinance language would be drafted with that context in mind.