Office of Public Affairs
For Immediate Release: May 7, 2019
News Release #2019-14
Media Contact: Lance Klug
SACRAMENTO–Dry weather is enabling debris removal crews managed by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to accelerate the cleanup of homes and businesses destroyed by the Camp, Woolsey, and Hill fires. Almost 200 crews, consisting of three to five workers each, are now removing wildfire ash, debris, concrete, metal, and contaminated soil from properties in Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties in which homeowners are participating in the state-managed debris removal program.
- In Butte County, 141 crews clear an average of 100 properties per day.
- In Los Angeles and Ventura counties, 44 crews clear an average of 28 properties every three days.
“Wildfire debris removal crews are making extraordinary progress clearing remnants of these unprecedented disasters and putting these communities in a position to rebuild,” CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said. “These debris removal crews, along with local, state, and federal partner teams, are working six days a week to help restore these neighborhoods. Our objective, always, is conducting our debris removal operations safely and efficiently.”
Various stages of debris removal operations in Butte County including pre-debris removal (left), active debris removal (middle) and completed lot (right).
California’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program
Implemented under the leadership of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and local governments, the Consolidated Debris Removal Program offers survivors of the Camp, Woolsey, and Hill fires a streamlined option to clear their properties.
Following the removal of household hazardous waste from burned parcels (Phase 1), CalRecycle oversees and manages contractors to conduct Phase 2 of debris removal operations at no out-of-pocket cost to property owners. To participate, owners must grant cleanup crews access to their property by returning signed Right-of-Entry agreements to their local government.
Phase 2 Progress Report as of May 6, 201
| Order of Operations | Butte County (Camp) | Los Angeles County (Woolsey) | Ventura County (Woolsey/Hill) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participating properties | 10,734 | 831 | 96 |
| Step 1–Site Assessment and Documentation | |||
| Sites assessed | 8,806 | 820 | 95 |
| Asbestos surveys completed | 7,056 | 818 | 94 |
| Step 2–Debris Removal | |||
| Debris removal completed | 2,401 | 600 | 66 |
| Step 3–Confirmation Sampling | |||
| Sample results approved | 726 | 455 | 53 |
| Step 4–Erosion Control Measures | |||
| Erosion control completed | 349 | 241 | 34 |
| Step 5–Final Inspection | |||
| Final inspection completed | 299 | 195 | 15 |
Phase 2 Debris Removal Tonnage as of May 2, 2019
| Type of Waste | Camp Fire Debris Removal | Woolsey Fire (Los Angeles) Debris Removal | Woolsey/Hill Fire (Ventura) Debris Removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash, debris, and soil | 473,656 tons | 182,505 tons | 23,075 tons |
| Concrete | 99,540 tons | 52,421 tons | 10,815 tons |
| Metal | 9,195 tons | 3,423 tons | 525 tons |
| Contaminated soil | 89,839 tons | 44,411 tons | 5,286 tons |
| Total | 672,230 tons (1.3 billion lbs.) | 282,760 tons (565 million lbs.) | 39,701 tons (79 million lbs.) |
Affected residents can find answers to their questions about the Phase 2 debris removal process by emailing inquiries to debrisquestions@caloes.ca.gov or by contacting local representatives at the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in their community:
Butte County DROC
900 Fortress St.
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 399-0434
Los Angeles County/Ventura County DROC
26610 Agoura Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
(626) 979-5370
Property owners who prefer to conduct their own cleanup or hire private contractors to remove wildfire debris may do so, but they should be aware of local safety and environmental standards and requirements. Find more information on alternate cleanup programs and find additional resources for wildfire survivors on the following local recovery websites:
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.