LA Wildfire Debris Removal Deadline Extended to April 15th for Victims

Extended Deadline for Debris Removal

• 🗓️ The federal government has extended the deadline for homeowners impacted by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires to decide on debris removal methods until April 15th.
• 📝 Property owners must submit a Right of Entry form to opt into the Army Corps of Engineers cleanup program.

Expanded Eligibility for Cleanup Program

• 🏢 The federally funded debris removal program now includes commercial property owners, owners of multifamily properties, houses of worship, and nonprofits.
• 🏗️ The Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors are making steady progress on wildfire debris removal.

Property Owner Choices and Outreach

• 🏡 Property owners have the choice to opt into the government program or manage cleanup with a private permitted contractor.
• ⚠️ It is advised to submit the form even if uncertain, as opting out later is possible, but missing the deadline means losing the opportunity.
• 📞 County officials are conducting aggressive outreach, including case managers calling non-responsive property owners, to ensure everyone can make a decision before the deadline.

Current Participation and Next Steps

• 📊 So far, nearly 9,800 property owners have opted into the government program, while approximately 1,000 have opted out.
• ❓ Around 1,200 property owners have yet to submit the required Right of Entry form.
• ❗ Failure to take action by April 15th will make property owners solely responsible for managing and paying for debris removal.

Other Deadlines and Concerns

• 🚨 The deadline for FEMA assistance or an SBA loan remains March 31st.
• 🐌 Supervisor Barger expressed that the slow permitting process for both cleanup and rebuilding is unacceptable and plans to submit a motion to address it.