Office of Public Affairs
For Immediate Release: June 12, 2023
News Release # 2023-03
Media Contact: Maria West
916-341-6625| opa@calrecycle.ca.gov
Media Contact: CalOES NewsRoom
916-800-3943 | media@caloes.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – Helping survivors of last year’s wildfires prepare to rebuild, California has completed state-managed debris removal operations for the 2022 wildfire season centered in Siskiyou County. Debris removal crews cleared, tested and released all 218 enrolled properties impacted by the Mountain, McKinney and Mill fires.
Overseen by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and CalRecycle, the state works with counties to sign up households for the California’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program to clear eligible fire-related debris from burned properties at no cost to property owners.
“Removing disaster debris gives survivors a path to rebuild,” said Rachel Machi Wagoner, Director of CalRecycle. “We thank our state, local, and federal partners for their shared commitment to assisting communities devastated by wildfires.”
State crews cleared burned metal and concrete, ash and contaminated soil from the last of the 183 homes, as well as 7,027 wildfire-damaged trees in danger of falling on public rights of way.
“We’re proud to work with our partners to ensure wildfire survivors can properly recover and rebuild following an intense fire season,” said Ryan Buras, Cal OES Deputy Director of Recovery.
Cal OES continues to provide technical and financial assistance to Placer, El Dorado, and Madera counties managing their own debris removal from the Mosquito and Fork fires.
Among the communities affected by the 2022 fires was historic Lincoln Heights in Weed, one of the oldest rural Black neighborhoods in the west. California has safely cleared over 23,000 disaster destroyed properties from 60 fires since operations began in 2007.
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CalRecycle provides oversight of California solid waste handling and recycling programs to protect human health, develop sustainable solutions that conserve resources, and reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.