SACRAMENTO – State-managed contractors have cleared eligible wildfire debris from more than 90 percent of the properties whose owners enrolled in California's Consolidated Debris Removal Program after last year's fires. Crews also have removed more than half of the 56,400 fire-damaged hazard trees threatening public roads, clearing the way for rebuilding and recovery.
To date, crews have removed burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from 1,608 properties. The 1,608 cleared properties represent 90.4 percent of the 1,779 properties in 15 counties participating in the full debris removal program. Another 359 properties are participating in the hazardous trees only element of the program.
"Our team is incredibly proud of the progress we have made thus far for the counties affected by the 2021 wildfires. The removal of more than 394,000 tons of debris and over 31,000 eligible fire-damaged trees from impacted properties has supported rebuilding efforts for many families and businesses who were unfortunately surrounded by unstable grounds and damaged housing materials caused by the wildfires," said Cal OES Deputy Director Ryan Buras. "We remain committed and determined to removing the debris from the remaining properties as quickly as possible so that all residents can safely return home and move forward in their recovery from this tragic event."
Under the program, administered by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in collaboration with county officials, participating property owners incur no direct costs.
Cal OES and CalRecycle are making significant progress removing debris from some of the communities hardest hit during the 2021 fire season.
The El Dorado County community of Grizzly Flats was among the hardest hit during last year's fire season, after the Caldor Fire destroy the community school, church, fire station and hundreds of homes. Now, state crews have cleared 99 percent of all enrolled properties in Grizzly Flats, including the Grizzly Flats Community Church.
Nine hundred eight burned vehicles also were removed, each of which was carefully reviewed by California Highway Patrol officers to ensure they were properly document and removed from Department of Motor Vehicle systems.
Cal OES and CalRecycle are now focus on removing the 23,000 hazard trees posing a hazard to the community. To date, crews have removed 60 percent of the eligible trees, and tree removal work is expected to continue through the spring. Just over 80 percent of all enrolled parcels in Grizzly Flats are fully complete and have been approved for rebuilding.
Property owners opted into the program by submitting a Right-of-Entry form (ROE) to their county, which allows the state to begin work on their property and incur no direct costs for the removal of burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from their properties.
California's Consolidated Debris Removal Program Stats
Mendocino County
Full ROEs-20
Hazard Tree only ROEs- 1
Total eligible trees- 111
Property owners cannot start rebuilding until fire debris is removed from their properties and soil samples taken from the property meet state environmental health and safety standards."
Property owners also can do the work themselves or hire a private contractor, but the work must meet the same state standards as the State Program. If work is started by the property owner or contractor, they become ineligible for the State Program.
Work Completed to Date:
Mendocino County
Site Assessments Complete -20
Asbestos Assessments Complete-20
Asbestos Abatements Complete- 12
Debris Removal Complete- 20
Steps Left to Complete
firBefore homeowners can begin rebuilding, cleared properties need additional work including:
Separate contractors collect soil samples for verification at a laboratory that they meet state environmental health and safety standards.
Contractors next may install erosion control measures.
Certified arborists or professional foresters assess wildfire-damaged trees in danger of falling on the public or public infrastructure for removal by separate contractors.
Finally, state officials inspect the property to verify all completed work meets state standards. Debris officials submit a final inspection report to local officials to approve the property for reconstruction.
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