Office of Public Affairs
For Immediate Release: June 14, 2018
News Release #2018-15
Media Contact: Lance Klug
SACRAMENTO–Crews managed by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery have completed debris removal operations at 672 Ventura County properties destroyed by the Thomas Fire. Since January, crews have removed more than 263,000 tons of ash, debris, and contaminated soil from properties for which owners chose to participate in the state-funded cleanup program.
“The wildfires California experienced last winter were among the most destructive in state history, so cleanup efforts demanded an unprecedented response,” CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said. “CalRecycle is incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made alongside neighbors and local leaders in the City of Ventura and Ventura County to help get these communities in a position to rebuild.”
Following December’s Thomas Fire in Southern California, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) tasked CalRecycle with overseeing debris removal work in the City of Ventura and Ventura County. On Jan. 19, 2018, CalRecycle contractor crews began removing debris from participating properties. Crews completed debris removal at the final property on June 6, 2018.
| BY THE NUMBERS-Thomas Fire Debris Removal | |
|---|---|
| Properties in Debris Removal Program | 672 |
| Debris Removal Completed | 672 |
| Tons of Ash, Debris and Soil Removed | 263,925 |
| Confirmation Soil Sampling Completed | 670 |
| Erosion Control Measures Installed | 663 |
| Final Property Inspections Completed | 652 |
Final soil testing, the installation of erosion control measures, and final property inspections are on track to be complete in the coming weeks. Upon final inspections, property owners receive a certificate from their county that verifies their lot is clean and eligible to receive a building permit.
For more information on the Thomas Fire cleanup operations, check out venturacountyrecovers.org
For more information contact, the Office of Public Affairs, opa@calrecycle.ca.gov
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CalRecycle's mission is to protect California's environment and climate for the health and prosperity of future generations through the reduction, reuse and recycling of California resources, environmental education, disaster recovery, and the transition from a disposable to a fully circular economy.