RESIDENTS MAY BE LIABLE FOR FIREFIGHTING; COUNCIL SUPPORTS ADDING BRUSH CLEARANCE PENALTIES.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles property owners who fail to clear brush were put on notice Friday by the City Council that they might have to pay the cost of putting out any fires caused by their negligence.

``This is an emergency situation and we have to let people know they will have to pay if they don't clear away their brush,'' Councilman Hal Bernson said before the 12-0 vote asking the City Attorney's Office for a report on the issue.

``It is imperative we do this. There was a tremendous amount of foliage created by El Nino. Every day we get people to comply, we save lives.''

The Los Angeles Fire Department's brush clearance program has come under attack in recent days for failing to be more aggressive and for not providing enough information to officials.

The LAFD has inspected some 180,000 properties in hillside areas and issued citations to 20,000 homeowners for failing to clear brush 200 feet from structures. Officials have estimated there are about 8,000 properties that have yet to comply.

Council members were told the city already has the power to recover some of the costs of fighting fires, but Bernson said he wanted it expanded to include all costs as well as helping neighbors recover any losses they suffer as a result of a fire.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said she had some concerns about how the city would determine which property owner was liable as well as what impact there would be on fire insurance coverage if the city takes steps to help others recover losses.