It is a start

Considering Anchorage’s sad inability to deal with its burgeoning homeless camp problem, an ordinance giving the city’s fire department chief authority to declare “wildfire danger areas” subject to quick clearance only makes sense and long overdue.

The Assembly is to consider the proposed ordinance next month.

Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel is sponsoring the proposal. The Midtown representative tells KTVA she considers it a matter of public safety, necessary to address wildfire risk from the camps when fire danger is high.

It would allow camps in parks and greenbelts to be declared danger zones and cleared faster than the 10-day notice required now, even as quickly as 72 hours. If there is a burn ban in effect and fire-making implements are present, the camps could be cleared with 24 only hours notice. Personal property would be removed and stored.

There are, of course, hearings, expenses for storage and all sorts of rigmarole involved after removal or seizure of property from people who should not be camping on public property. Nonetheless, the proposal is a start to preserving city residents’ lives and property from fires started in the illegal camps.

It makes so much sense, we wonder when the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska will sue.