Recently, homeowners in areas affected by wildfires have been struggling to keep the debris away, but are now waiting for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to inspect its properties and remove any hazardous materials. I’m facing a job.
For those wondering how this process works, here is what to expect.
Homes already inspected by the EPA will display a sign indicating that they have been checked. However, at agencies that cover a vast area from Eltadena to Pallisad, the process has been slower but remains ongoing.
For a family like Johnson, who returned to his 48-year home in Altadena after the Eton fire, the emotional sacrifice is immeasurable. Sift through ruins of once-beloved houses, they search for the remains of their past.
“All the trees have been planted here,” Thomas Johnson said.
His wife, Sandra, looked around in devastation. “All the dreams you have…it’s gone,” she shared. “We see some things broken, and it’s a bit difficult. We can’t get it back – Sovenir we had. So it’s just a new adjustment.”
Thomas pondered the future and said, “Then you have to decide whether you’re going to stay or not, you’ll rebuild. You know, I’ll turn 77 this year. I’ll experience this again. Not young enough to be.”
The couple decided to go home after their neighbors sent them a photo of the EPA sign confirming that their property had been checked and the dangerous material had been removed.
In their neighborhood, the house after the house has been reduced to tiled rubs, with similar EPA signs marking the site.
So far, nearly 1,200 of the over 13,000 properties spanning Altadena to Pallisade have been inspected. Luckily, the recent rain has not slowed EPA work.
Steve Karanog, EPA Deputy Case Commander for Wildfire Response in Eton and Palisades, said:
Calanog also encouraged affected homeowners to check the EPA website. There you can enter your address to see if the property has been inspected.
“We are notifying cities and counties that there are various agencies responsible for overseeing the property,” he added.
For families like Johnson, emotional and logistical challenges remain overwhelming.
“Wake me up, someone. This is not true,” Thomas said, but still struggles to handle the loss.
They feel a little sense of relief knowing their property is cleared by the EPA, but they are cautious about lingering ashes and estimate that reconstruction could take three to five years I’m doing it.
Still, Sandra holds hope. “The garden is still good. Let’s build a house. You know, we still have land, so I want to stay,” she said optimistically.
Like Johnson, many families evacuated everything except their cell phones and clothes on their backs. Now, as our neighbors come together and support each other, many are pledging to return and rebuild.
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