Hollywood Eyesore Demolished After 6 Fires in Less Than a Year
A vacant home in Hollywood that had become a dangerous hotspot for fires was finally demolished Thursday morning after yet another blaze — the latest in a series of six fires over the past year.
Residents on North Wilton Place say they were awoken around 2 a.m. by a fire that broke out at the abandoned property. Jeanne Rice, who lives next door, said the flames were exactly what she and her neighbors had been fearing for months.
“We were watching it unfold, exactly what we were scared of,” Rice said.
The home had become a growing concern for the neighborhood, despite being fenced off and boarded up. According to Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) records, this was the sixth time the property had caught fire since last summer.
Local residents told ABC7 last week that people had been seen living inside the vacant house, raising safety concerns for the entire block.
“How much defense do we have to put up around ourselves to keep ourselves safe?” said neighbor Levi Freeman. “Clearly the people who are setting these fires are putting everyone else in danger.”
After Thursday’s fire caused extensive structural damage, the LAFD deemed the building a hazard and brought in heavy machinery to demolish it on the spot.
The property owner had previously stated that he wanted to tear the house down but had been waiting on a city demolition permit. According to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, the owner submitted the application in June 2024. However, it had been delayed due to pending clearances from Los Angeles City Planning.
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In a statement released Thursday, City Planning clarified that as of April 29, the owner had not yet filed the necessary application with their department. Planning officials said they contacted the applicant to walk them through the process, and the final clearance was given at 9:11 a.m. Thursday — only after demolition had already begun due to the latest fire.
The demolition permit was officially issued later that same day.
While neighbors are relieved the hazardous home is gone, they say the danger isn’t over. Several other vacant properties remain on the same street, and residents fear they could become the next source of trouble.
“This isn’t just one house — this is a bigger problem,” said Freeman. “We need the city to act before another fire puts more people at risk.”
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