SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — State contractors have removed nearly 200,000 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.
From the 96,949-acre Woolsey Fire, 177,505.79 tons of eligible debris have been removed so far from properties in Los Angeles County, and 21,690.08 tons have been removed from properties in Ventura County. The 4,531-acre Hill Fire is responsible for the remaining 445.10 tons of debris removed so far from Ventura County properties. Debris eligible for removal under the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program includes burned metal, concrete, ash, and contaminated soil.
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.
To date, DROC officials have submitted final inspection reports for 105 properties in Los Angeles County and 11 in Ventura County – all related to the Woolsey Fire – to local officials. Submission of the reports by DROC officials clears the way for rebuilding by owners of those properties to begin.
According to DROC officials, state contractors have cleared fire-related debris from 408 properties in Los Angeles County and 41 properties in Ventura County. The Woolsey Fire is responsible for all the debris removed from the Los Angeles County properties, as well as 38 of the Ventura County properties. Debris from the other three Ventura County sites cleared so far stems from the Hill Fire.
Crews have finished installing fiber rolls on and applying a wood-based, biodegradable mulch and binder to 131 of the cleared properties in Los Angeles County and 10 of the cleared sites in Ventura County. Completion of the two erosion control measures on each property follows completion of site assessments, asbestos surveys and abatements, where needed, as well as the removal of debris and confirmation by a state-certified laboratory that soil samples taken at each cleared site meet state environmental and health standards.
Debris removal officials also reported that contractors have completed site assessments on 956 properties – 852 in Los Angeles County and 104 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 839 asbestos surveys and 107 asbestos abatements in Los Angeles County. In Ventura County, they have conducted 92 asbestos surveys and 9 abatements.
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 i