SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed more than 102,000 tons of debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from private properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since debris removal operations began on February 6, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas reported today.
The debris removed so far represents 89,518.35 tons of burned debris and ash, concrete, contaminated soil and metal from properties in Los Angeles County participating in the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, as well as 12,750.83 tons of debris from properties in Ventura County.
Under the state program, administered by CalRecycle and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), property owners who opt inincur no direct costs for the removal of eligible debris.
According to DROC officials, state contractors have removed fire-related debris from 210 properties in Los Angeles County and 24 in Ventura County. Debris removal operations on cleared sites followed earlier site assessments, asbestos surveys and, where necessary, asbestos abatements of those properties.
Crews have finished installing fiber rolls on and applying mulch to 10 properties in Los Angeles County. Completion of the two erosion control measures on each property paves the way for final walkthroughs by debris removal officials and the submission to county officials of documentation certifying that all aspects of the debris removal process are complete.
Erosion control measures on the rest of the properties cleared to date are underway or pending the results of testing and analysis within the next two weeks by a state-certified laboratory of soil samples collected at each property to determine whether the soil samples meet state health and environmental standards.
Debris removal officials also reported that contractors have completed site assessments on 897 properties – 800 in Los Angeles County and 97 in Ventura County. During site assessments of properties whose owners have opted into the state program, contractors document and photograph property lines, the location of septic tanks, the footprints of foundations and ash, as well as objects that pose a hazard or hamper operations such as trees, pools and vehicles.
Contractors also have completed 786 asbestos surveys and 87 asbestos abatements in Los Angeles County, as well as 83 asbestos surveys and nine abatements in Ventura County. During the asbestos surveys, state contractors canvass each property for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and collect samples of materials suspected of containing ACMs for testing. Properties with ACMs are scheduled for abatement. Those with no ACMs present are scheduled for debris removal. Contractors also may tip standing chimneys for later removal.
Property owners who have submitted ROEs can meet one-on-one with debris removal experts from their respective counties to discuss the status of their ROEs and issues related to their property at the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) located at 26610 Agoura Road in Calabasas. The DROC is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Debris officials will notify property owners who have opted in to the state program 24-48 hours prior to the start of debris removal operations on their property. Property owners may walk the property with crews before work begins.
For more information in Los Angeles County, visit lacounty.gov/LACountyRecovers or call 1-626-979-5370. For more information in Ventura County, visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or call 1-805-504-7869.