Neighborhood on Edge: Hoarder House Trial Starts

It's April 25th, from your city to your ears.

This is California News Today, powered by AI.

I'm Cory with the story.

Neighbors and Sun Valley are on edge after a hoarder house on LaTuna Canyon Road caught

fire for the fifth time last Friday.

The place is packed with junk, abandoned cars, and hazardous stuff, forcing hazmat teams

to step in over damaged lithium-ion batteries.

This isn't new city crews try cleaning it up last summer after an EPA report on toxic

chemicals, but the mess just pile back up.

A guy neighbors call Dave, who's the son of the owner, keeps hauling in more debris

despite years of complaints.

Folks nearby are fed up, worried about their kids, pets, and homes going up in flames.

One resident said they can't keep living with his crisis next door, and city councilwoman

Monica Rodriguez is vowing to use every tool to fix it and keep firefighters safe.

The property owner, Mara Ferrara, got sentenced to 180 days in jail last time for not cleaning

up, but she only served one day because of her age.

She blames her son for the whole situation.

Now a jury trial kicks off this Wednesday, April 29th to finally hold her accountable and

may be forced a real cleanup before the next blaze.

Turns into a neighborhood disaster.