Residents call for action after Seaside park fire

Charred Wood and left over garbage are what remain after a fire that occurred last Friday night at Laguna Grande Park in Seaside and Monterey.

Stephen and Michele Cry have been living in a Monterey neighborhood adjacent to the park for more than 20 years. They say homeless living in park has been a cause for concern.

“Our worry has been all summer and frankly for the last few years… about the fire danger and how it could go up the canyon and affect our homes,” said both Stephen and Michele.

The Crys provided KION with a photo showing a propane tank at one of the encampments before a cleanup at the park in August. They say there have been stoves and propane heaters as well.

“The PG&E substation is probably 200 yards away from this area where we’re standing,” said Stephen Cry. “It wouldn’t take much for the fire to spread up the hill, through the homes and into the station.”

Residents say Monterey and Seaside have been working together to clean up some of the camps within the park. But residents say there are still homeless living within the thick brush further inside the park land, some of which butts up to residential backyards.

“If the fire had taken place closer to neighbors around the corner, it could’ve been a disastrous affect for homes that back up to that,” said Roy Pina, a Monterey resident who also lives near the park.

“We’ve had several instances of trespassing, that’s probably the most. There was a break-in a few months ago,” said Stephen Cry.

The neighborhood has now united to push for longer term solutions for the issue. They see the collaboration between Seaside, Monterey and the Monterey Regional Parks Department as a hopeful sign things will get better, even as some still believe the cities are not doing enough.

“Make it be what it can be. A beautiful place for Monterey, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks. Everyone can enjoy it if it’s a safe environment,” said Michele Cry.

There is a meeting regarding the Joint Powers Agreement between the two cities and the Monterey Regional Parks Department. It is set to start at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at the Seaside City Hall.