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Residents cite repeated house fires, open‑air drug use near schools; council hears public safety pleas
Summary
Multiple residents told Lakewood City Council on May 12 that a property near schools in Ward 2 had repeatedly burned, that open‑air drug use and encampments persist, and that police response has been inadequate. Speakers asked city and public‑safety officials to take faster action to remove hazards and protect children.
Several Ward 2 residents used the May 12 public‑comment period to report repeated fires, continued open‑air drug use and encampments on a property near local schools and to urge quicker city and police action.
Lindsay Driver, a Ward 2 resident, described back‑to‑back house fires at a property “two doors down from my home and across the street from a high school.” She said the house had become “a hub for disturbing and dangerous activities,” including people bringing trailers and campers onto the lawn and “open‑air drug usage.” Driver said she had reported the activity to law enforcement and that “the response unfortunately has been inadequate.”
Other residents corroborated Driver’s account and described an explosion and subsequent fires at a property identified in testimony as 8,000 West Tenth Avenue (near Allison Street). Johnny Hatch and Ariana Kaiser told the council the Saturday fire shook nearby homes; Kaiser emphasized that small children attend schools that route past the property and said she is “outraged” at the lack of visible cleanup or patrols after the explosion.
Chris Fisher and other speakers said they had reported thefts, weapon discoveries, and threatening behavior in the larger neighborhood and that police appearances had been limited to sporadic drive‑bys. Fisher said his home had been burglarized and that he had been robbed at knifepoint; he described inconsistent responses from the police department and told council he had left messages asking for action.
Several speakers said they had shown police video evidence of drug use and hazardous conditions; they characterized the situation as a public‑safety and child‑safety emergency because the property is near Jefferson County Open School and Lakewood High School. Residents asked the city to coordinate with police and building‑code enforcement to have an inspector condemn or board up an unsafe structure and to remove squatters quickly.
Council and staff response: councilors asked staff and the police commander to review jurisdictional responsibilities and the immediate enforcement options. Council members expressed sympathy and urged staff to coordinate with law enforcement and code enforcement; one councilor asked staff to clarify whether board‑up or condemnation orders were available as a near‑term remedy while investigations proceed.
No formal council action was taken during the meeting; speakers asked the council to prioritize coordination with police, building inspectors and other agencies so removal and cleanup can proceed in the short term.
