A financial breakthrough was announced that could help as many as 5,000 Camp Fire burn scar property owners eliminate lingering dangers.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has resolved one of the obstacles to recovery — what to do with trees damaged, but left standing, by the fire.
Dubbed “hazard trees” they’ve mostly been removed from near homes and publicly owned roads.
The hiccup has been ones that could potentially fall on any of the many privately owned roads in the burn scar. Though disaster assistance isn’t typically available to eliminate hazards from private property, an exception is being made.
Butte County officials said Wednesday that FEMA gave the go-ahead, agreeing to cover the cost of felling hazard trees overhanging private roads.
County officials had argued that the extent of private roads and number of both absentee landowners and financially challenged property owners would hinder and delay reconstruction.
The new ruling makes about 5,000 additional properties eligible. A map showing which parcels may enroll has been posted to the Butte County recovers website. https://buttecountyrecovers.org/private-property-tree-removal-map/
The deadline for signing up for the tree removal was extended to May 1st.