After deadly RV fire, SLO County assesses safety at houseless parking site
After a woman died in an RV fire at the Kansas Avenue Safe Parking site, San Luis Obispo County officials are assessing various safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“We’re looking at what are the best practices,” said Jeff Al-Mashat, SLO County’s homeless services program manager. “We’ve already installed new heavy-duty fire extinguishers. We’re looking at additional lifesaving tools that could be put on the site.”
The county also will provide fire safety training for people who live at the site near the Sheriff’s Office off Highway 1, Al-Mashat said.
Jorji Coy-Epperly, who was identified by friends and a family member, died Tuesday morning after being trapped inside her locked RV during the blaze.
She’d latched shut for safety overnight, friends said.
The Kansas Avenue site was started as a pilot program by the county in August.
Previously, county staff handed out smoke detectors to residents at the site, where typically 80 to 90 people can be found on any given night.
Officials have stopped intake at the site for “the next couple of days because we’re still just assessing everything.”
“I am planning to spend some significant time out there, really looking at the safety of the site, not just fires, but other things,” Al-Mashat said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep people safe. The whole idea of this program is to provide safety from any dangers than might occur.”
Assessing safety
One of the challenges for bystanders trying to help the woman was they couldn’t get into the trailer as the flames spread, possibly suggesting a need for tools in such a situation.
“I just don’t know myself what is most appropriate,” Al-Mashat said. “So I’m looking to the fire folks to give us some guidance and to help direct us where we can get the most appropriate or proper instruments.”
Asked about whether fire hoses would be added to the site, Al-Mashat said he isn’t sure if that would be an option.
“We have an amazing fire department who responded very quickly,” he said. “I think that that’s probably the protocol we would continue to follow because the the fire department does a truly excellent job.”
Al-Mashat said the Safe Parking Facility at Kansas Avenue was started as a test with the idea to learn, assess and hopefully expand to other locations in the county.
“Addressing homeless services is a very high priority of the county, so we’re working,” Al-Mashat said. “We’re working together as a county to really address this. Everyone’s communicating and we’re looking at what are the best things that we’re able to provide that are truly going to help people move forward.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
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