Allen Emerson, the former head of Arson Watch, died on Aug. 22 in Selma, Ala. after being hospitalized for an pancreas infection. He was 82.
A resident of Topanga for 37 years, Emerson helped form Arson Watch in 1982 while serving on the Topanga Town Council. When the president of the council urged people to form a group to look out for fires and warn the community, Emerson was the only person to raise his hand to volunteer.
“And now I’m stuck with it,” Emerson told The Malibu Times in 2003. “Well, I shouldn’t say that actually. I enjoy it. It’s very important.”
Over the years, Emerson served as the coordinator for all the teams that cover the areas of Topanga, Calabasas, Agoura, Cornell, Seminole Hot Springs and Malibu. The teams, composed of unpaid volunteers, patrol the Santa Monica Mountains looking for signs of fire and report any sighting, warnings and vital information to the local Sheriff’s Station, Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and other local officials. The organization relies on contributions for the purchase of radios and other equipment in order to operate.
For his work and time with Arson Watch, Emerson was commended by the city of Malibu and the Sheriff’s Department. He received a Dolphin Award in 2002 from The Malibu Times.
Longtime friend Tony Morris, who heads the Wildfire Research Network, said of Emerson, “He was one of the kindest and most focused men I ever met in my life. He was focused on the wildfire threat that we face every year in Los Angeles County.”
Fellow Arson Watch member Dave Lichten said, “He was a great man. He was underappreciated. He was a friend of mine. And I miss him terribly.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Emerson joined the Army when he was 18, serving in World War II. He moved to California in 1951 after visiting during a vacation his father gave him as a present.
“I fell in love with California, L.A. particularly,” Emerson said in an interview last year with The Times. “It was 1951-the sky was blue, no smog.”
Emerson initially lived in West Hollywood and was introduced to the Topanga Canyon area while working as a salesperson for a shoe manufacturing company. After moving to Topanga, Emerson gave up selling shoes and became an actor through the encouragement of some friends who belonged to a small actors’ group.
“They talked me into taking a part in one show they were putting on,” Emerson recalled. “I didn’t want to at first, but it was a small part.”
Emerson was also cast as the understudy for an actor with a larger part. That actor left for a job with more pay, and Emerson was thrust into the spotlight. From then on, he considered himself an actor. He performed in several theater plays and his first television role was on “Gunsmoke.”
“I had four lines,” Emerson said.
His acting career was successful enough for him to get an agent and “work a little bit” playing mostly “bad guys.” Emerson also worked delivering unpainted furniture and as a waiter to get by.
He was forced to leave Topanga last year when his landlord sold the home he was living in and he couldn’t find another affordable room to rent in the area.
“I’ve been priced-out, like many others,” Emerson told The Times. “I want to live here, but I just can’t afford the rent.”
He moved to Northern California to live with a relative. During the past year, Emerson also traveled to Australia to spend time with his son, Geoffrey, and grandson.
Emerson is survived by his son, grandson and Jason Kniss, a man Emerson helped raised who considered Emerson to be a father.
A funeral service is taking place in Selma. Those wishing to send flowers and cards can contact Fred’s Flowers in Selma, and send cards and flowers to J.H. Williams & Sons, 1226 Minter St., Selma, Alabama 36701.