Army Corps Completes Debris Removal From Eaton Fire in Altadena

[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]

[Updated] Federal officials have completed debris removal operations in Altadena and surrounding communities affected by the Eaton Fire, marking a major milestone in regional recovery efforts, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced Friday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formally signed off on the final phase of debris clearance during a site visit to Eliot Arts Magnet School in Altadena on August 29, according to Barger’s office. The sign-off concludes months of coordinated cleanup across Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Altadena, where the fire destroyed or damaged more than 9,000 structures and killed 19 people.

“What was expected to take more than two years was finished in just seven months,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said at a news conference on August 26. “That speed is extraordinary, but this milestone is about more than speed. It’s about partnership and compassion and a shared commitment to walk the road of recovery with our community until the very end.”

The Army Corps began debris removal in February 2025 in partnership with FEMA, Cal OES, Los Angeles County, and local jurisdictions.

The Army Corps of Engineers said they have 1.4 million tons of debris and have cleared over 5,600 private properties in the Eaton Fire footprint, according to KCBS — completing the work approximately four months ahead of schedule.

“As of today, we have completed the private parcel debris removal program and only two special inclusion parcels remain before we complete our full debris removal program,” Major Todd Ober of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said during an August 18 community meeting.

In Altadena, restoration efforts now shift to the Altadena Golf Course, where earthwork is scheduled to finish by mid-October, followed by sod placement and driving range restoration through mid-November. The final handover to the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is expected by year’s end, according to Pasadena Now.

“I thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their extraordinary service to the residents of Altadena and our region,” Barger said in a statement issued August 29. “Their dedication and professionalism ensured that recovery efforts moved forward quickly and effectively.”

Barger emphasized that the county’s focus will now turn fully toward rebuilding, pledging continued oversight and collaboration with residents to ensure long-term recovery.

“Our residents deserve nothing less than a full and resilient recovery,” she said.