Efforts to remove debris generated by the Woolsey and Hill fires from private properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties whose owners have opted into the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program continue to progress, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas announced today.

State contractors have now removed fire-caused debris from 35 properties in Los Angeles County and from 11 properties in Ventura County since debris removal operations began on February 6, state debris removal officials said. Debris removal operations on the cleared sites followed earlier site assessments, asbestos surveys and, where necessary, asbestos abatements of those properties.

In addition to removing debris from the 46 properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, state contractors have completed 566 site assessments and 484 asbestos surveys related to private properties affected by the fires.

In Los Angeles County, crews have completed 484 site assessments and 411 asbestos surveys on properties impacted by the Woolsey Fire. In Ventura County, crews have completed 82 site assessments and 73 asbestos surveys on properties impacted by the Woolsey and Hill fires.

Site assessments and asbestos surveys are critical steps in the state’s debris removal program and on the road to rebuilding for property owners. State contractors must complete a site assessment before beginning debris removal operations on each property, and property owners cannot begin to rebuild until debris is removed, soil from the property is tested to ensure it meets California’s environmental standards and erosion control measures have been implemented on their property.

During site assessments of properties whose owners have opted into the state program, contractors document and photograph property lines, the location of septic tanks, the footprints of foundations and ash, as well as objects that pose a hazard or hamper operations such as trees, pools and vehicles.

During the asbestos surveys, state contractors canvass each property for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and collect samples of materials suspected of containing ACMs for testing. Properties with ACMs are scheduled for abatement. Those with no ACMs present are scheduled for debris removal.   Contractors also may tip standing chimneys for later removal.

So far, certified asbestos consultants have completed abatements on 23 properties in Los Angeles County and five properties in Ventura County.

Under the state program, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and CalRecycle, property owners who opt in incur no direct costs for the removal of eligible debris, including foundations, concrete, ash and metal.

Nearly 900 property owners in Los Angeles County and 107 property owners in Ventura County have submitted Right-of-Entry (ROE) permit application forms to participate and allow state contractors to access their properties.

Property owners who have submitted ROEs can meet one-on-one with debris removal experts from their respective counties to discuss the status of their ROEs and issues related to their property at the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) located at 26610 Agoura Road in Calabasas. The DROC is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays. Call 1-805-819-8791 to schedule an appointment at the DROC.

Debris officials will notify property owners who have opted in to the state program 24-48 hours prior to the start of debris removal operations on their property. Property owners may walk the property with crews before work begins.

For more information in Los Angeles County, visit lacounty.gov/LACountyRecovers or call 1-626-979-5370.  For more information in Ventura County, visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or call 1-805-504-7869.

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