Second Phase of State’s Debris Removal Program for 2022 Wildfires Now Underway in Siskiyou County

Published:

Survivors Participating in State Program Now Closer to Rebuilding

Cal OES Recovery Also Supporting County-Led Program for Oak Fire Survivors

SACRAMENTO – Marking another important step forward in helping Californians rebuild and recover from this year’s wildfires, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) today announced that the second and final phase of state-managed debris removal operations is officially underway in Siskiyou County, with Cal OES continuing to assist Mariposa County with the final phase of their county-led debris removal program.

State Consolidated Debris Removal in Siskiyou County

Earlier this week, in Siskiyou County, through the State Consolidated Debris Removal Program that is administered by Cal OES and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), state-managed crews started clearing fire debris from 187 participating properties damaged or destroyed by the Mountain, McKinney, and Mill fires.

Siskiyou County wildfire survivors participating in the State Consolidated Debris Removal Program can access an informational dashboard that provides details of the cleanup progress. The Debris Operations Dashboard for the Mountain, Mill, and McKinney wildfires is updated every hour and provides users with the ability to sort by branch or county via the filters at the top of the page. Users can also search by address via the magnifying glass icon at the top of the map to access the debris removal data of their property.

County Consolidated Debris Removal in Mariposa County

In Mariposa County, debris removal operations under the county-led wildfire cleanup program continue, with crews starting to clear the remaining fire debris from 135 participating properties. Cal OES, while not the lead for Oak Fire debris removal, is still supporting Mariposa County with technical assistance to mirror the State Consolidated Debris Removal Program.

Details and progress of the cleanup pertaining to the Oak Fire can be found on the Debris Operations Dashboard for Mariposa County.

Understanding the State Consolidated Debris Removal Program

The state-managed debris removal program has two phases: removal of household hazardous waste and removal of other fire-related debris.

Phase one is automatic and includes all residential properties that have been destroyed by the fires.

In phase two, local, state, and federal officials coordinate to provide comprehensive debris removal, hazard tree removal, and environmental cleanup services to property owners at no out-of-pocket cost. Property owners must opt-in to phase two of the program by submitting a Right-of-Entry form to their county government.

The ROE form gives permission to the city/county and state to access private property for the purpose of wildfire cleanup activities. By signing an ROE form, property owners extend permission to CalRecycle and its contractors to remove fire-related debris.

Learn About the Right-of-Entry Form to Participate in the Consolidated Debris Removal Program:

Wildfire Cleanup Process and Order of Operations

Phase One | Household Hazardous Waste Removal

  • Department of Toxic Substances and Control (DTSC) clears properties of household hazardous waste, including propane tanks, electronic waste, compressed gas cylinders, and solvents.
  • DTSC teams assess properties for asbestos and remove easily identifiable asbestos material.

Phase Two | Debris Removal

  • Site Assessment: Environmental team photographs the site and identifies hazards.
  • Asbestos Assessment and Abatement: Certified Consultants assess possible asbestos, and any identified asbestos is professionally removed.
  • Debris Removal: All fire-impacted metal, ash, debris, concrete, including foundations, and contaminated soil are removed.
  • Soil Analysis: Remaining soil is compared to cleanup goals and confirmed to be safe.
  • Erosion Control: Hydromulch, wattles, and/or wood chips are installed to prevent erosion.
  • Hazard Tree Removal: Trees will be assessed by Certified Arborists. All trees determined to pose a hazard to public roads or infrastructure will be removed.

Learn About Hazard Tree Assessments After a Wildfire:

###