Army Corps Details Massive Debris Removal Plan For Pasadena Fire Zones

The United States Army Corps of Engineers presented plans Monday to the Pasadena City Council to remove hazardous debris from 142 single-family homes, six multi-family structures and six ADUs destroyed in Pasadena during the recent Eaton Fire, which destroyed over 9,418 structures in total across six towns and cities.

“The United States has never seen a fire, an urban fire like this in a wildland urban interface before. This is the first time of this magnitude,” said Pasadena Public Health Director Manuel Carmona.

The cleanup will occur in two phases: First, Environmental Protection Agency teams will remove the most hazardous materials within 30 days, followed by Army Corps contractors conducting comprehensive debris removal, notably foundations and six inches of contaminated soil.

Property owners must sign right-of-entry forms within 60 days to participate in the no-cost federal program, with forms becoming available on Tuesday, January 28.

Cleanup workers will wear full protective gear including Tyvek suits and respirators. Air quality will be monitored throughout operations.

Residents will receive 3 to 5 days notice before work begins on their property, which typically takes 2 to 4 days to complete.

Earlier, the City’s Public Health Department has issued an order making unauthorized debris removal a misdemeanor.

Councilmember Steve Madison voiced concerns about maintaining local control, particularly regarding the transportation of hazardous materials through City streets.

City Manager Miguel Márquez assured the City Council that Pasadena officials participate in daily debris removal task force meetings.

“The City’s well represented — three or four or five of us are on that call every day,” Márquez said.

A formal memorandum of understanding defining City oversight roles is pending.

The City is assigning “community connectors” to help residents navigate the process and offering notary services for required paperwork. A virtual community meeting is planned for February 5.

The Corps is also seeking local contractors and workers through ECC.net to participate in the cleanup.

Property owners who opt out must obtain permits and follow the same environmental protocols at their own expense. Those participating can choose whether to keep or remove their foundations. The entire cleanup operation across all affected cities could take up to a year to complete.

Disaster Recovery Centers remain available at Pasadena City College Community Education Center through Friday and at 540 West Woodbury Road in Altadena seven days per week to assist residents.