State officials have joined the chorus of officials urging Camp Fire survivors to sign up for tree removal.
Though structured to avoid burdening homeowners with any out of pocket costs, property owners haven’t exactly been rushing to sign up.
Recently, officials had received signed ‘right-of-entry’ forms from about one in ten of those eligible.
Justin Jacobs, a spokesman for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said hazard trees—ones damaged by the fire that may topple, are hampering reconstruction.
“Even if you’re not necessarily maybe going to rebuild right now on your parcel, it could be affecting your neighbor’s parcel or something like that.” Jacobs said.
The forms allow crews to enter and work on specific properties.
“Ultimately, all of this is being done to get people back home.” Jacobs said.
Similar to debris removal, those not wanting government contracted crews can hire their own contractors. But signatures are still required for an inspection once the work is done.
Jacobs said officials are looking to avoid sending the trees to the landfill.
“We’re looking at potential biomass options right now, what is still able to be put out as grade lumber, what can be chipped. Basically looking at alternate forms of use for as much or all of that if possible.” he said.
For more information, visit buttecountyrecovers.organd look for private property tree removal: https://buttecountyrecovers.org/private-property-tree-removal/
