The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance on Tuesday mandating the cleanup of fire debris and ash on properties belonging to owners who opted out of the Army Corps of Engineers debris removal program and have not hired a licensed contractor to perform the work.
One hundred percent of property owners in Altadena have turned in the required Right of Entry (ROE) forms. The form is required if property owners are allowing the army to clean their property.
However, some property owners used the form to notify the County that they would have the work done themselves. A Fire Debris Removal Permit is required in those cases, and those residents are required to pay the removal costs.
The removal work must be completed by June 30.
About 10% of impacted property owners in Altadena and the Palisades opted out of the two-phased program.
“There are some property owners who either never decided on how to have their property cleared or who opted out but have not made any effort to have their property cleared,” the motion states.
According to the motion, neighbors rebuilding from the disastrous fire must have confidence that these `non-responsive’ properties will be cleared quickly of this remaining fire ash and debris to avoid the health impacts of uncontained fire ash and debris to themselves and the community at large.
“Therefore, speedy abatement of this public health nuisance is essential,” the ordinance reads.
If property owners do not clear debris by June 30, they will be declared a public nuisance and health hazard.
After properties receive that declaration, they will receive a Summary Abatement Notice and Order, which would authorize the County to clear the fire debris and bill the property owner.
Property owners would have seven days to appeal the notice and order.
Failure to pay would result in a lien being placed on the property.
The County’s director of public works will work to provide additional notice to the non-responsive and opt-out property owners during this same period, using whatever additional means of contact that the Department of Public Works has located, such as telephone number, email address, or text message.
The Eaton Fire began on January 7 and burned 9,400 structures, mostly in Altadena. Eighteen people were killed in the fire, which scorched more than 14,000 acres.
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