A Year of Frustration Over a Burning House
*Valley Glen, Los Angeles* — A year after a fire destroyed a home in Valley Glen, neighbors are still dealing with the aftermath as the property remains a safety hazard and eyesore.
The charred house sits frozen in time with broken windows, debris taking over the front yard, and charred beams visible throughout. Residents say the property has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a target for individuals they say are trespassing.
"I have had a homeless guy, he thinks he lives here, he brought a trash bin here, cleaning the property, he tried to set a fire here and I had to call the police," said Debbie Stopeck, who lives near the property. "I have had to call the police on him 11 times."
Stopeck has taken the lead in pushing to get the property cleaned up with the city.
"We have contacted whom we are supposed to, and we get nothing back," she said. "We either don't get a response, or we get a hand response; we are working on it."
Property History
LA County Assessor records show the property was sold in 2023. Stopeck says no one ever moved in and adds that they started construction but never finished it.
Listing records show the home later went into a short sale in January 2025 and by April, it had burned down.