Mobile home park residents testify in Sylmar on fire safety - Los Angeles Times
Padilla said he was confident that his measure would pass, although the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have killed at least seven bills since 2001 to improve code enforcement and safety in mobile home parks."We've got support from public safety officials and residents," he said. "The governor was here after the fires and saw things for himself. I hope that will make a difference."
After November's fires, Schwarzenegger called for a review of building standards and emergency procedures for mobile homes, trying to bring them into line with requirements for conventional homes. He noted that the Oakridge units went up like matches.
At Friday's hearing, the committee heard dramatic testimony from mobile home owners who complained about a lack of emergency preparedness and escape routes, inadequate removal of flammable vegetation, and locks that had to be cut off gates to help residents flee oncoming flames.
Only one representative from the mobile