An analysis of Los Angeles Fire Department data by ABC7 Los Angeles counted 12,241 fires classified as homeless- or encampment-related in the city through Sept. 20, 2026. More than 10,000 were categorized as trash fires; the other reported categories included 189 vegetation or brush fires, 173 vehicle fires and 153 structure fires. The total averages about 47 fires a day and was about 6% below the same period in 2025. CBS previously reported nearly 17,000 homeless-related fires in Los Angeles in 2024.
What the LAFD label does—and doesn’t—mean
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s encampment-survey fact sheet says referrals can draw on field fire-reporting software indicating homeless encampment fires. That describes a reporting process; the label by itself does not establish what caused a fire or who was responsible.
The city and fire department report different measures
ABC7’s analysis found concentrations along the 10 Freeway corridor and in Skid Row, including 77 fires in one small section of Skid Row. Separately, the outlet reported that Mayor Karen Bass’s office cited more than 140 encampment removals and said LAFD data showed encampment-fire-related calls were down by more than 800 compared with the same period last year. The United Firefighters of Los Angeles City has also highlighted the scale of fires associated with homelessness.
Separately, the Los Angeles Fire Department has warned that rising call volumes and understaffing are slowing response times across the department. Fire calls have also drawn attention to the department’s budget.
A reported crew’s daily workload
In ABC7’s report on a rapid-response team assigned to smaller fires, firefighter Anthony Verdecia said its vehicle carries 200 feet of hose and 200 gallons of water. He said his crew typically handles five to 15 rubbish fires a day.
Verdecia told ABC7 that fires may be started for warmth or cooking, or deliberately, and warned that rubbish fires can spread to nearby encampments, trees, brush or structures. These observations come from ABC7’s interview, not independent reporting for this article.
Freeway and home fires occurred in different years
ABC7 reported that a rubbish fire shut down part of the 110 Freeway in San Pedro in May 2026. The outlet also reported on a separate fire in Larchmont in March 2026. Homeowner Jonathan Galicia told ABC7 that his house burned and his dogs died after he sought authorities’ help to remove squatters from the area.
A separate fire beneath Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles occurred in November 2023, not 2026. The Washington Examiner reported that the fire, which began at an encampment, was arson and led to a freeway closure lasting more than a week.
Homelessness figures provide additional context
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count found that homelessness in the city rose 3.4% to 45,194 people, while unsheltered homelessness outdoors increased 7.9% to 29,115. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority attributed much of the increase to a funding reduction that paused Time-Limited Subsidies. The number of people newly housed using those subsidies fell from 10,308 in 2024 to 6,590 in 2025; transitions from interim shelter to permanent housing declined 36%, from 12,120 to 7,770.
Some people have returned to encampments after Inside Safe operations, according to The Patriot KEIB AM 1150. Hoodline reported that a body was found in a tent at a North Hills encampment near the 405 Freeway.
