County Enforces Final Debris Removal as Altadena Rebuild Accelerates

With nearly 99% of properties cleared under a federal cleanup program, Los Angeles County has moved into the final enforcement stage of post-fire recovery in Altadena, initiating summary abatement orders for remaining parcels not yet cleared of hazardous debris.

At a July 21 virtual community meeting, officials said enforcement began after a June 30 deadline passed for residents who opted out of the United States Army Corps of Engineers program and had not completed debris removal. Eighteen properties were transferred to the Army Corps for abatement, with operations expected to begin this week and continue through July.

“While an overwhelming majority of parcels are cleared, there are still residential and commercial parcels that have not been cleared. It’s imperative that we have debris removal completed so our community can start to rebuild,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who led the meeting. “We’re committed to making the process easier and more affordable—not more expensive.”

Barger continued, saying “uncertainty rebuilding among parcels that have not been cleared in terms of health and safety, but also from a logistics perspective. That is why the county is moving forward with the summary abatement process…”.

Officials also confirmed that 18 appeals were submitted by residents contesting summary abatement notices, with six appeals denied due to missed cleanup deadlines.

For a group of commercial and multifamily properties recently denied entry to the Army Corps program, the County has extended the debris removal deadline to July 31. County inspectors will revisit those sites in coming days to verify active cleanup efforts.

According to Colonel Sonny B. Avichal with the Army Corps, more than 5,500 parcels enrolled in the program have been cleared—representing 98.6%—and 97.6% have returned rights-of-entry to the County. Twelve debris crews remain operational in Eaton Canyon, and demobilization at the Altadena Golf Course is 85% complete. Eliot Middle School cleanup remains on track for completion by mid-September.

To ensure full community recovery, Barger reiterated her opposition to Senate Bill 549 and assured residents that her plan does not involve new taxes or added costs to homeowners. She said the County will leverage permitting efficiencies, utility coordination, and shared infrastructure investments to reduce rebuilding costs. The summary abatement hotline — 844-347-3332 — remains open for residents needing support.

County Public Works officials highlighted the launch of a new artificial intelligence-powered permitting tool, eCheck, developed in partnership with Archistar, Autodesk, and Amazon. The platform offers free zoning compliance checks for rebuild applicants and is expected to reduce permit turnaround times. Currently, 51 accounts have been created and nine submissions received. The tool is available at echeck.lacounty.gov.

Officials also previewed improvements to transit access. Los Angeles Metro’s LIFE program — expanded in January to support wildfire survivors — is under consideration for extension through January 2026. The program offers a free 90-day transit pass followed by 20 monthly free rides and additional discounted fare options. As of July, over 6,000 residents have enrolled.

LA County Public Works representatives reported continued momentum in permitting. As of this week:

• 1,110 rebuild applications have been submitted in Altadena.
• 730 zoning reviews have been cleared.
• 635 building plan checks are underway.
• 103 permits have been issued.
• Average turnaround time is 57 business days, including design and revision periods.

To address seasonal hazards, officials said the Los Angeles County Flood Control District will continue providing sandbags and engineering support ahead of potential mudflows from burn scars.

Sheriff’s Department Acting Captain Ethan Marquez also spoke, sharing gratitude for community support following the recent deaths of two deputies. Crime prevention efforts — including parking enforcement, special operations, and additional staffing — are yielding results, with burglary rates falling below December 2024 levels. Upcoming community engagement events include a town hall meeting at the Altadena Library on July 23, a Bus Pull fundraiser on August 23, and a 5K walk/run on January 4.

Residents can find updates, dashboards, and contact info for rebuilding services at recovery.lacounty.gov/altadena.