Fires that broke out on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at two long-unoccupied homes, located on Hill Street on the border of Signal Hill and Long Beach, have been declared “arson,” according to Long Beach fire authorities.
Staff Writer
Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) authorities this week continued to investigate “arson” fires at two long-unoccupied homes on Hill Street, according to city officials.
In the meantime, the homes’ property owners are still hanging on to hopes that the empty houses, which the City of Long Beach declared a public nuisance before one of the homes caught fire in 2012, won’t be demolished next year.
Since the two-story homes, located on the border of Long Beach and Signal Hill, were built more than 10 years ago, they have remained vacant, mainly because the original developer, Wayne Ballinger, was never legally permitted to construct the properties, according to Long Beach city officials.
Though the homes, located at 2910 Hill St. and 2914 Hill St., are technically located in Long Beach, the original developer never received easements for utilities. In addition, the City of Signal Hill has rejected building driveways on Hill Street, which is located in Signal Hill, determining that driveways on such a sloping street would be too dangerous and may cause a car accident.
Without utilities or driveways, the City of Long Beach has refused to grant occupancy permits, and the buildings have remained unoccupied.
Last week, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, both homes caught fire. According to a statement from the LBFD, the fires have been ruled an arson.
“We don’t know if it was an individual or individuals, but it was a criminal start,” said LBFD spokesperson Jake Heflin in a phone interview.
This was the second time at least one of the properties caught fire. A fire at one of the houses in 2012, according to a previous article in the Signal Tribune, caused $100,000 to $150,000 in damage.
According to the Heflin, the fires last week took nearly 30 minutes to extinguish after LBFD and Los Angeles County fire authorities arrived on the scene at about 8:05pm. Though there has been discussion about transients living in the structures, there were no occupants on the scene when firefighters arrived, he said.
Heflin said the fires cause significant smoke damage throughout both homes, including in kitchens, bathrooms and closets. He added that the house on the western side, higher up Hill Street, had the most smoke damage from the fire.
Tarzana-based 6 Angels, LLC acquired the properties in 2008 with the intent to fulfill the City of Long Beach’s requirements and complete the development project. However, after three years, the City filed a lawsuit against the property owners, threatening to have the houses demolished, deeming them a public nuisance.
One solution would be to construct driveways in back of the homes, crossing over adjacent properties and creating an extension onto Orizaba Avenue.
After the property owners acquired adjacent land to build the driveways, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a stipulated judgment this year, ordering that, if the property owners don’t meet a strict timeline of obtaining building permits and acquiring easements, the court would allow the City of Long Beach to demolish the structures.
Kendra Carney, Long Beach deputy city attorney, said in a phone interview that the property owners have until Jan. 31 to meet deadlines of obtaining building permits and various other requirements, or the properties may face demolition. She said the court also has stipulated that the property owners meet another deadline of Feb. 3.
However, Carney added that if the driveways are built by the court’s deadline, “there’s no problem, and the case will be dismissed.”
Brian Angel, a principal for 6 Angels, Inc., confirmed in a phone interview that the houses are insured.
However, he said the property owners wouldn’t know the extent of the damage until next week.
In regard to the recent court order, Angel said the property owners have “submitted everything” to Long Beach Development Services Department and are waiting for approval. He added, however, that the recent fires might set back the project.
Those with information about the recent fires on Hill Street are asked to contact LBFD investigators at (562) 570-2537.
