A homeless person, Kay, gathers belongings from the encampment behind Wheeler Mission on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
San Diego, California – The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the city’s environmental services joined forces Thursday morning to clear tons of trash left on the cliffs of Torrey Pines. Utilizing a helicopter, authorities worked to remove debris that had accumulated over months, primarily due to two homeless encampments in the area.
Franklin Coopersmith, deputy director of Clean SD, emphasized the multifaceted concerns at play. “We have to worry about your safety, starting a fire, and taking care of the environment,” he said.
This week, about a dozen members of the city’s environmental services abatement team gathered approximately four to five tons of waste from the cliffs above Black’s Beach. The trash, primarily composed of food wrappers and Rubbermaid trash cans, created what Coopersmith described as an “illegal dumping pile.”
The encampments had been on the city’s radar since last August, but due to the terrain’s dangers, officials determined that manual removal was not an option. Instead, the city enlisted the help of the San Diego Fire-Rescue cliff rescue team, which normally saves stranded hikers and surfers. This time, their mission was to rescue the environment.
The collected garbage was packed into 45 to 50 vinyl drag bags, each weighing between 200 and 400 pounds. The helicopter was tasked with lifting three bags at a time and depositing them into roll-out garbage bins stationed at the gliderport parking lot.
City officials strategically waited for rain to ensure the cleanup effort did not interfere with wildfire response operations. Additionally, Coopersmith noted that the exercise contributed to the cliff rescue team’s training hours. “Rather than practicing on objects out there, they can do this training while doing something to help the city out,” he explained.
While the cliffs of Torrey Pines offer stunning ocean views, Coopersmith warns against seeking shelter in the area due to unstable cliffs and fire hazards.
The last time a helicopter-assisted cleanup of an encampment took place was seven years ago—also above Black’s Beach and in an equally inaccessible location. The current effort highlights San Diego’s ongoing commitment to environmental preservation while ensuring public safety.
