Jeffrey Morris moved to his home on Lost Creek Court in Stockton in 2017 thinking he’d found a decent place to build his life. Nine years later, he’s experienced multiple fires near his property, each one linked to homeless encampments in the area between his neighborhood and Interstate 5. The most recent fire happened overnight, continuing a pattern of danger that has tested his patience and his family’s sense of security. The scariest was a 2022 fire that spread rapidly across his fence and destroyed two trees before firefighters stopped it from reaching the house. Morris describes the helplessness of watching his property threatened while depending entirely on first responders to save it.
The frustrating part isn’t just the fires themselves—it’s the unclear responsibility for preventing them. A fence with a locked gate and“No Trespassing”sign is supposed to restrict access to the area, but an opening in that fence allows people to enter and establish encampments. When investigators looked into who manages this space, the answer was murky. Is it Caltrans’responsibility? The City of Stockton’s? The confusion suggests either agency could claim it’s not their job, leaving a dangerous gap in safety management that affects real families.
Morris would love to move away from this recurring nightmare, but California’s housing market and current interest rates have essentially locked him in place. He’s caught between two crises: a fire risk that won’t go away and an affordability problem that won’t let him escape. What would it take for the responsible agencies to step in and actually address the encampments and secure that fence opening?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
