The City has finally committed to completing the brush abatement work required for the safety of our canyon. This outcome reflects the effort of everyone who signed this petition to hold local officials accountable. We will continue to monitor the area to ensure these maintenance standards are upheld in the …
May 26, 2019
Final supporters
Petition on Brush Abatement in the Vermont Street Bridge Canyon
For decades residents of University Heights have asked the City of San Diego to remove dead trees and overgrown vegetation from the Vermont Street Bridge Canyon, also known as Camelot Canyon. The condition of the canyon has created an extreme fire hazard and attracted homeless encampments resulting in bio-waste and degradation of the canyon’s bioswale. Multiple requests from the residents failed to result in action by the City.
On March 27, 2018 a major fire broke out in the canyon causing the Fire Marshal to issue citations to Caltrans and the City, both of whom are responsible for maintenance of the canyon. Caltrans worked for twelve full days on the west end of the canyon, employing a large team of workers and an extensive amount of equipment. The result was prompt, complete clearing of dead trees and brush and thinning out of the remaining dense vegetation. By contrast, the City worked five partial days on the eastern portion with a small team, leaving much work undone despite the Fire Marshal's citation. Due to the untrimmed, low and dense tree canopy which provides them cover, new homeless camps spring up in the City portion of the canyon as soon as existing ones are removed. Residents were not surprised when another fire broke out on October 28, 2018.
We have all witnessed the devastation of brush fires that quickly get out of control in California. The abundance of rain this winter will increase the overgrowth, making completion of the brush abatement even more critical. Thousands of residents and the businesses close to the canyon need the city to do what is needed to prevent a disastrous fire in our neighborhood and address the unsightly and unsanitary conditions caused by the homeless encampments.
By signing this petition, we are asking the City to eliminate the clear and present danger of fire in the canyon by taking prompt and thorough action to complete the brush and vegetation abatement per the Fire Marshal's citation.
2-14-19
Updates
March 17, 2019
The disparity between the comprehensive work performed by Caltrans and the minimal efforts by the City remains a primary concern for the residents of University Heights. I am currently compiling documentation to present these ongoing safety failures to the relevant city departments. Your persistence in highlighting these neglected areas ensures that this request remains firmly on the public agenda.
March 17, 2019
The momentum behind this petition has grown significantly over the past few days. This widespread recognition of the fire hazards in the canyon sends a clear message that the current neglect is no longer acceptable.
Reached 100 supporters
March 17, 2019
50 Comments
It was actually pretty windy that day. Embers blew south across four lanes of traffic and over the tops of the uptown/HUB condos into their pool area, burning several of their chairs enough that they had to be thrown out. That is a much shorter distance than the homes to the north of the fire.
I watched the fire spread last March, and was hugely grateful for the helicopter returning multiple times to drop tanks of water on the burning treetops. If it had been a high-wind and/or low-humidity day, those burning crowns would have thrown sparks and coals onto residences, starting a residential firestorm. There can be no claim of ignorance: the UHCA has asked the city over and over to clean up. Does it take a preventable disaster of homes burning in the city center before the city does the job of clearing fire fuel right? Let's hope not.
I am a resident of University Heights on Hayes Ave. This canyon has been a fire hazard for awhile now and I don't understand why the city can't dedicate the resources to clean this area up.
The west end work that was done had a dramatic impact on the appearance and health of the canyon, but it is the east end that is most visible...and the problem as outlined in the partition. The canyon provides escape and shelter to those that have a negative impact on the neighborhood (trash, vehicle break-ins, bio waste, etc.) Please help.
The cost to take preventive measures now will be far less than the cost of damages caused by a fire in a neglected canyon.
1211 Maryland Pl
4136 Campus Avenue.
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The City has finally committed to completing the brush abatement work required for the safety of our canyon. This outcome reflects the effort of everyone who signed this petition to hold local officials accountable. We will continue to monitor the area to ensure these maintenance standards are upheld in the …
May 26, 2019
Final supporters
Petition on Brush Abatement in the Vermont Street Bridge Canyon
For decades residents of University Heights have asked the City of San Diego to remove dead trees and overgrown vegetation from the Vermont Street Bridge Canyon, also known as Camelot Canyon. The condition of the canyon has created an extreme fire hazard and attracted homeless encampments resulting in bio-waste and degradation of the canyon’s bioswale. Multiple requests from the residents failed to result in action by the City.
On March 27, 2018 a major fire broke out in the canyon causing the Fire Marshal to issue citations to Caltrans and the City, both of whom are responsible for maintenance of the canyon. Caltrans worked for twelve full days on the west end of the canyon, employing a large team of workers and an extensive amount of equipment. The result was prompt, complete clearing of dead trees and brush and thinning out of the remaining dense vegetation. By contrast, the City worked five partial days on the eastern portion with a small team, leaving much work undone despite the Fire Marshal's citation. Due to the untrimmed, low and dense tree canopy which provides them cover, new homeless camps spring up in the City portion of the canyon as soon as existing ones are removed. Residents were not surprised when another fire broke out on October 28, 2018.
We have all witnessed the devastation of brush fires that quickly get out of control in California. The abundance of rain this winter will increase the overgrowth, making completion of the brush abatement even more critical. Thousands of residents and the businesses close to the canyon need the city to do what is needed to prevent a disastrous fire in our neighborhood and address the unsightly and unsanitary conditions caused by the homeless encampments.
By signing this petition, we are asking the City to eliminate the clear and present danger of fire in the canyon by taking prompt and thorough action to complete the brush and vegetation abatement per the Fire Marshal's citation.
2-14-19
Updates
March 17, 2019
The disparity between the comprehensive work performed by Caltrans and the minimal efforts by the City remains a primary concern for the residents of University Heights. I am currently compiling documentation to present these ongoing safety failures to the relevant city departments. Your persistence in highlighting these neglected areas ensures that this request remains firmly on the public agenda.
March 17, 2019
The momentum behind this petition has grown significantly over the past few days. This widespread recognition of the fire hazards in the canyon sends a clear message that the current neglect is no longer acceptable.
Reached 100 supporters
March 17, 2019
50 Comments
I live off the bridge and daily deal with homeless screaming and disrupting peace, sleeping on the bridge and destroying the trash and recycle bins. It’s getting worse and people are moving away and I NEVER see patrol cars in the area.
It was actually pretty windy that day. Embers blew south across four lanes of traffic and over the tops of the uptown/HUB condos into their pool area, burning several of their chairs enough that they had to be thrown out. That is a much shorter distance than the homes to the north of the fire.
I watched the fire spread last March, and was hugely grateful for the helicopter returning multiple times to drop tanks of water on the burning treetops. If it had been a high-wind and/or low-humidity day, those burning crowns would have thrown sparks and coals onto residences, starting a residential firestorm. There can be no claim of ignorance: the UHCA has asked the city over and over to clean up. Does it take a preventable disaster of homes burning in the city center before the city does the job of clearing fire fuel right? Let's hope not.
I am a resident of University Heights on Hayes Ave. This canyon has been a fire hazard for awhile now and I don't understand why the city can't dedicate the resources to clean this area up.
The west end work that was done had a dramatic impact on the appearance and health of the canyon, but it is the east end that is most visible...and the problem as outlined in the partition. The canyon provides escape and shelter to those that have a negative impact on the neighborhood (trash, vehicle break-ins, bio waste, etc.) Please help.
The cost to take preventive measures now will be far less than the cost of damages caused by a fire in a neglected canyon.
1211 Maryland Pl
4136 Campus Avenue.
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I live off the bridge and daily deal with homeless screaming and disrupting peace, sleeping on the bridge and destroying the trash and recycle bins. It’s getting worse and people are moving away and I NEVER see patrol cars in the area.