Police outreach team, city crews, and state partners restore site near Sibley and Blue Ravine after months of work
FOLSOM—What was once one of the city’s largest and most entrenched homeless encampments is now bare ground. The site near the intersection of Sibley Street and Blue Ravine Road has been dismantled and cleared in a coordinated operation that city officials say reflects both compassion and persistence in addressing homelessness.
The abatement was carried out through the combined efforts of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Folsom Solid Waste, the city’s Streets Department, and the Folsom Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT). City officials described the cleanup as “the result of months of coordination, outreach, and persistence—and reflects our city’s commitment to balancing compassion with public safety and environmental care.” They added that HOT officers had engaged with individuals at the site many times in advance, offering resources and housing support, and noted that several people secured housing independently.
The Sibley and Blue Ravine encampment had grown steadily over the past year in a secluded area west and northwest of the intersection, accessible only from nearby recreation trails. Over time it became one of the largest sites in Folsom, with tents, makeshift structures, and debris spread through the brush. Police officers explained that the location had been visited repeatedly by the HOT team, which logged the camp into a mapping system, posted notices, and returned several times to offer services before the cleanup was scheduled. By the time crews arrived with trucks and equipment, much of the groundwork had already been laid. Some individuals had transitioned into housing, while others were given referrals to available resources.
The transformation is striking for those who had walked the trails and seen the site firsthand. Folsom Times first visited the location earlier this year during a ride along with the Homeless Outreach Team, when the camp was still fully active. At that time, officers explained how each encampment is documented, monitored, and managed through repeated visits. They also described the delicate nature of the outreach: many of the individuals at the site were known by name, and conversations often revolved around health, family, or past housing.
The Sibley and Blue Ravine site was highlighted then as an example of a location that would take months of patient engagement before it could be cleared, and the recent cleanup shows that process in full.
The abatement also underscored the importance of cooperation with state agencies. Because the land was state-owned, the city relied on an agreement with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize enforcement. That partnership was critical in allowing local officers to move forward, and Fish and Wildlife staff worked alongside city crews to ensure the work met environmental standards. The result was a safe and orderly abatement of one of Folsom’s most problematic encampments, leaving the site restored and free of debris.
While this cleanup stands out for its size, it is part of a broader effort. During our field visit earlier this year, officers noted that more than 40 encampments across Folsom had already been addressed in recent months, ranging from small clusters along creekbeds to entrenched sites like Sibley and Blue Ravine. Each one follows the same process of documentation, outreach, and eventual cleanup, with HOT officers returning afterward for follow-up patrols to prevent reoccupation.
The timing of this latest abatement also coincides with a new step in the city’s strategy. Earlier this month, the Folsom City Council approved a two-year, $157,000 contract with Bio-One Sacramento, a professional cleanup company specializing in hazardous and biohazard response. The agreement, which splits into $76,804 the first year and $80,652 in the second, provides the city with consistent support for cleanups, especially at sites where conditions pose health risks or require specialized handling. City staff said the contract builds on work Bio-One began in 2024, when it was first hired to assist with encampment cleanups. Officials credited the company with dependable service and an ability to navigate the safety and environmental concerns that come with this kind of work.
For residents who use the recreation trails near the Sibley and Blue Ravine corridor, the change is dramatic. For the city, the clearance is not just an isolated success but part of a larger system now in place—daily outreach from the HOT team, specialized cleanup support from Bio-One, and interagency cooperation that allows enforcement on both city and state land. Police acknowledge that challenges remain and that encampments can reappear quickly, but they stress that persistence, compassion, and coordination will remain central to their approach.
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