Los Angeles County is doubling its outreach efforts to let owners know they have until the end of the month when it launches a free fire department removal program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After the March 31 deadline, residents must make a bill to remove fire debris from their property.
“We encourage everyone who is sitting on the fence or thinking about it, calling us, calling the county, getting facts, or making an election so that this process can be started on your property.”
Almost two months after the January shooting, around 8,200 properties were on the program, according to the latest county data. More than 700 property owners have opted out.
To begin the process, residents must grant the county the right to admission to their property. “We’ve seen you get a lot of money,” said Angela George Maudy, LA County Deputy Director of Public Works.
The county is adding staff as deadlines approach.
Around 2,300 properties have been submitted to contractors who are planning to clean up the shards, but the county has identified more than 13,500 eligible plots in the two fire belts.
More than 9,400 structures have been destroyed in Altadena, and more than 6,800 have been destroyed in Pallisad in the Pacific Ocean. Official estimates show that the fire caused as much as 4.5 million tonnes of debris. The large-scale project to remove debris has been rolled out in stages, with the Environmental Protection Agency closing its first stage on the 28th.
The agency cleaned up lithium batteries, propane tanks and other hazardous materials from facilities throughout the county. The second phase is currently underway.
Authorities are also reviewing the tree for possible removal from damaged properties. Among the factors outlined by the county, removal is scheduled if the tree is dead, dead or dead, too close to the footprint of a burning structure or tilted towards the work area.
Trees with yellow markings and ribbons are exempt from the removal process, while trees with unique barcodes and blue markings are classified as presenting immediate or imminent danger. County officials say not all of these trees will be removed and residents will have the opportunity to appeal the decision. However, residents should note that this process can affect their ability to secure building permits.
“There are many opportunities for survivors to work with the crew to express their concern and desire to maintain certain trees that we consider to be high risk and dangerous,” Swenson said.
He also asked the inhabitants not to draw the trees himself, in order to save them from removal.
“I urge survivors to paint them, don’t paint them. Toxic paint is harmful to the wood,” he said.
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