Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman wanted to ban backyard barbecues for residents during certain high fire danger days across the city.
Raman introduced a motion Wednesday directing city officials to examine emergency restrictions on grilling during Red Flag Warning days, when high winds and dry conditions significantly increase wildfire danger across Los Angeles.
The proposal specifically asks officials to consider possible limits on backyard barbecues, fire pits and other open flames in residential neighborhoods during those high-risk weather events.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents much of the San Fernando Valley, stepped in and successfully blocked the proposal by introducing a separate motion that stripped Raman’s barbecue ban.
“The last thing Angelenos need is a ban on hosting a carne asada in their own backyard,” Rodriguez told The California Post.
She said the proposal felt completely disconnected from how families across Los Angeles actually live. A Red Flag Warning was put in place from Aug 20-24 in 2025 when temps across LA soared to as high as 100 fahrenheit.
“We’re not checking the weather for red flag conditions before planning a backyard barbecue,” Rodriguez said. “This is what families do. Birthday parties. Carne asadas. Family gatherings. A lot of people barbecue.”
The same motion would have also had a major impact on restaurants that cook with open flames. Rodriguez said she started hearing concerns from restaurant owners when the motion was being passed around.
“You had restaurant owners calling it out saying, ‘This is going to affect our business,’” she said.
Rodriguez argued City Hall should be focusing more attention on homeless encampment fires, which have become a growing issue across Los Angeles.
She pointed to Los Angeles Fire Department data showing crews responded to roughly 33,000 homeless-related fires last year alone.
“How about Ms. Raman focus on enforcing against the encampments that are the majority source of our fires instead of singling out residential neighborhoods and folks having backyard barbecues?” Rodriguez said.
