It happened wicked fast, said the victims of last week’s fire at a Novato homeless encampment. The flames ripped through nylon tents, destroyed personal possessions and even damaged one man’s prosthetic leg—all in a matter of minutes.
Miraculously, none of the 15-or-so occupants of the city-sanctioned encampment in Lee Gerner Park were injured when the fire, allegedly arson, broke out on July 30 at 3:30am. But the residents described a terrifying scene, awakening to shouts of fire, seeing rising flames and feeling intense heat.
Scrambling out of their tents, John Sandfort and Geno Meyer immediately went to the aid of the camp’s two wheelchair-bound residents. Together, they pulled Mike Robertson and Kathy Plumb, life partners, to safety.
“Geno and John got me and Kathy out,” said Robertson, who has relied on a wheelchair since his leg was amputated. “They’re heroes because that fire took off like a bat out of hell.”
Another resident, David Tillotson, recalls hearing a cacophony of popping and banging as the fire climbed one tree and leapt to the branches of others.
“We got lucky that there was no wind,” Tillotson said. “And the police and fire [department] got there almost right away.”
Novato Police Lt. Chris Jacob confirmed that after 911 dispatch received the call, police arrived in minutes, with the fire department not far behind. From the outset, the fire seemed suspicious to the two departments, and they investigated it as arson, according to Jacob.
Two days later, on Aug. 1, police arrested Brianna Giudice, 36, and Giovanni Allison, 39, former encampment residents. Police identified Giudice as the arson suspect, while Allison was named a person of interest.
The suspects were apprehended as they fled from a vacant building near the camp. Police booked Giudice into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony arson, burglary, resisting arrest and outstanding warrants. Allison’s booking charges include outstanding warrants, burglary, violating probation and resisting arrest.
The early morning blaze left half of the downtown Novato homeless encampment a heap of charred rubble and ash. Officials had no choice but to red tag the area and close it down—at least temporarily—keeping the displaced residents in limbo about their future.
The city moved most of the fire victims into a Novato motel, although at least one person, a young woman who said she has lived at the camp for about a month, was not provided with a room. Officials have declined to answer questions about how long they will continue to pay for the lodging or whether they will reopen the encampment, which has space for 17 tents.
Lee Gerner Park became the site of an impromptu camp in 2019, when a homeless Novato man, Jason Sarris, began sleeping there. Others soon followed. In July 2020, the city cleared the camp, but the unhoused people returned the following month.
Then the Novato City Council passed two anti-camping ordinances in May 2021, prompting Sarris to form the Novato chapter of the Marin Homeless Union. Civil rights attorney Anthony Prince quickly filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Novato, and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the city from closing the camp at Lee Gerner Park.
The union and the city engaged in negotiations, eventually reaching a settlement in 2022. Novato sanctioned the “Temporary Camp” and agreed to keep it open for at least two years, with that term expiring two months from now, on Oct. 13. The agreement states that the camp’s operation beyond that date remains solely at the city’s discretion; however, homeless advocates said they have always hoped for an extension.
A current budget deficit, more than $4 million this fiscal year, may influence the city’s decision about rebuilding. It’s also unclear whether the city would have funds for the camp’s ongoing maintenance, with multi-million-dollar budget deficits projected for the next several years.
The homeless residents understand the city faces financial issues, yet almost all want to return to the camp at Lee Gerner Park. Stability topped the list of reasons why the camp is important to them. And they hope that like other residents before them, staying at the camp will lead to permanent housing.
“The camp has been a bona fide pathway to housing with a proven track record,” said Sarris, who serves on the City of Novato’s Housing and Homeless Committee. “Twenty-three of our residents have been housed, and all have remained in their new homes.”
Sarris is among them. In 2022, soon after the city-sanctioned camp was established, he moved into an apartment—his first time off the streets in more than a decade. He wants others to receive the same leg up.
“That’s what’s bad about the whole thing, because you don’t know what’s gonna happen,” camp resident Tillotson said. “You can’t make any kind of plans. You know, it’s a really stressful situation. I’m not worried about me so much because I’ll get through this somehow. But other people, like Mike and Kathy, they’re in wheelchairs, and they don’t have anywhere to go.”
All the residents expressed great appreciation for the camp. Case managers connecting the residents with services and housing know where to find them, the mobile showers come weekly, and the central location makes it convenient to walk to the grocery store and Goodwill. And the Novato community has embraced the camp’s residents, with individuals, church groups and nonprofits regularly delivering clothing, food and other supplies.
While the homeless residents now stay in temporary quarters at the Days Inn in Novato, miles from a grocery store and other services, some community groups still check in. Residents sing the praises of Donald Cowan, a homeless outreach specialist for Community Action Marin, who provides transportation and much more.
When Cowan learned that Sandfort’s size 14 shoes were lost in the fire, he found a local group, Marin Cursillo, to donate new shoes. He also reached out to Rotary Club of Novato Evening to help another man who lost his wallet and all his clothes in the fire.
For now, the homeless residents’ immediate needs are being met. But until Novato decides how to move forward, they will continue living with uncertainty and fear about their future. Despite contacting numerous city officials to find out about a timetable, I received a single email stating, “There is nothing new to report.”
“I really want the city to continue their good work and rebuild the camp,” Sarris said. “But at the same time, the Novato Homeless Union is preparing for the worst-case scenario if the city does, in fact, try to shut the camp down.”
Thanks Nikki for helping to advocate for the homeless. You are very appreciated as one of the lights in the darkness and fear the homeless face.
It’s about time we address the issues of gross negligence by the city of Novato n public officials for instance fire dept where were the extinguishers? Why does blame seem to always be a homeless addict people in all aspects of life need to be accountable for their actions especially those getting paid to handle this situation of A People abuse of authority no service professionally handled, authentic certified and proven to not be a Robot……..
So, the firemen are responsible for the fire?
Another a plug for your buddy.
Didnt he he end sleeping in the park after using up all his couch surfing options?
Was it his drug and alcohol abuse that led him to a park bench?
Its a good thing no one was hurt in the fire , I hope those charged with starting the fire get the same punishment as those involved with the Saint Juniper Serra vandalism. That they pay the city back for all the expenses of housing those people and clearing of the park.