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Deadline Extended For Property Owners To Sign Up For Fire Debris Removal Program

Noah Berger
/
AP Photo

Property owners whose homes burned in the North Complex Fire have an extra month to enroll in a government-funded program to remove burned debris and other hazards from their properties. 

 

The initial deadline to sign upfor the program was Dec. 15, property owners now have until Jan. 15 to register by submitting a right-of-entry form. 

The debris removal program is now in phase two, which is focused on clearing burned structures,cars, and other hazards. The first phase of the program cleared household hazardous waste such as paints, pesticides and batteries. 

 

The California Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) and local officials coordinate the debris removal program which is funded by FEMA. Cole Glenwright, the northern branch director for Cal OES, said phase two debris removal is intended to protect public health.

 

“Our job is to remove the structural debris that threatens public health, perform soil analysis to make sure essentially that we’ve got all the debris, and then perform a little erosion control and return the property to the property owner,” He said. 

 

Back-filling and site-leveling are not a part of the free program. In addition toclearing structural debris from properties, Glenwright said the program is now providing a service that was not available following the Camp Fire.

 

“Tree removal is included.” He said, “We know that some folks are making other arrangements to have their trees removed, but if you have trees that are dead and likely to fall onto the public roads, or are dying according to an arborist, those trees will be removed as part of the phase two program.” 

 

Property owners who have not yet applied for this free government program may still do so by submitting a right-of-entry (ROE) form by January 15th.  Those who don’t apply for the program will be required to pay for debris removal themselves. Property owners can file a right-of-entry form online at buttecountyrecovers.org or in person at the ROE center in Oroville at 78 Table Mountain Blvd.

 

Glenwright said the phase two program is available in all areas affected by wildfire in California this year.  Property owners in other areas should check with their local counties to apply.

 

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