A giant federal wrench is about to gum up the works for those hoping for a quick return to Paradise and other fire damaged areas.
Camp Fire victims counting on returning to a fire damaged property any time soon can probably forget about it.
The Paradise Town Council and Butte County Board of Supervisors are both meeting today, and both are expected to prohibit people from taking up residence on their own property before fire debris is fully removed.
Officials expect that process, which was scheduled to get underway Friday, to take an entire year.
At issue: a reinterpretation of FEMA guidelines concerning health impacts of exposure to potentially toxic fire debris. Local officials say they’ve been warned that FEMA could cease funding debris removal unless they change course.
Butte County spokeswoman Casey Hatcher.
“This means that people who have moved back to their properties, who are living in a temporary dwelling on their property with burn debris will need to move that RV or trailer, whatever they’re living in, to a different area.” Hatcher said.
The same will probably hold true in Paradise. Town spokeswoman Ursula Smith said late Friday that a proposal, likely similar to the county’s, was still being prepared.
The moves are certain to generate frustration. Smith said 100 people had already paid for and received permits to connect a trailer or RV to electricity, with another 30 applications in the pipeline. A further 30 permits were purchased by residents of unincorporated areas.
Smith and Hatcher said those permits will likely be revoked and the money refunded.
LIVE KICKER: The Paradise Town Council meeting on the subject IS/WAS scheduled to get underway THIS MORNING (MONDAY) at 8 at town hall, 5555 Skyway, Paradise. The County Board of Supervisors meets this afternoon in Oroville at 3:15.