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Shreveport council urges quick action after spate of fires at abandoned apartment complexes
Summary
Council members pressed city staff this week for cameras, property‑securing steps and faster cleanup after four fires at abandoned multi‑unit complexes; officials said they are coordinating with potential buyers and plan immediate and longer‑term actions to secure properties.
Shreveport City Council members on Dec. 10 pressed staff to accelerate cleanup and security at several abandoned apartment complexes after multiple fires in recent days.
Councilman Green said the displacement of residents and the condition of the properties were unacceptable, calling the owner’s conduct “totally unacceptable, with what he did and how he displaced our residents” and urging expedited action to protect neighborhoods. Council members and staff said the problems include illegal dumping, repeated fires, and people squatting in vacant buildings.
City staff and public safety officials described short‑term and longer‑term steps. Officials said they have contacted property owners, potential buyers and lenders; are considering camera placement on city light poles to aid fire and police investigations; and are coordinating boarding and security efforts so police sweeps can be effective without leaving properties unsecured afterward. Staff also said one site, Oak Meadows, is under contract for purchase and the city is trying to coordinate with prospective buyers to secure and rehabilitate sites.
The council heard that some mitigation is already underway — water trucks and dust‑control measures for industrial operations were discussed in other agenda items — and that the master plan and interdepartmental coordination are being used to address recurring zoning issues that place industrial or temporary uses adjacent to residences. Officials emphasized the operational challenge of securing properties after enforcement actions and the need to move quickly to limit criminal activity and hazards.
The council did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting; members asked staff to report back on camera deployment and other immediate measures and signaled plans to revisit policy and enforcement choices in the coming weeks.
