Debris Removal Completed On Nearly Half The Homes In Altadena

The Army Corps of Engineers has cleared ash from nearly half of the properties destroyed in Altadena by the Eaton Fire.

According to Col. Sonny Avichal, ash and debris have been removed from 4,250 of the 9,400 structures destroyed by the fire.

“We continue to clear about 68 properties per day,:” Archival said on Monday. “As you continue to walk through the streets, you’ll see more and more properties cleared every day.”

In addition to residential lots, the Corps has taken on cleanup duties at several public and community sites, including Farnsworth Park, Charles White Park, and the Eaton Canyon Nature Center.

Cleanup efforts will soon begin at the Lifeline Fellowship Center, Pasadena Jewish Temple, and the Altadena Senior Center.

The Corps is also scheduled to begin work on four multi-family properties where at least one resident is a property owner—making them eligible under current program rules.

The debris removal program is being carried out in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the County of Los Angeles, and other agencies following January’s devastating fires that ravaged neighborhoods in Altadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley area.

The cleanup effort is organized into two key phases to systematically address the extensive damage. In Phase 1, specialized teams have completed the removal of household hazardous waste from affected properties to prevent environmental contamination.

Under Phase 2, which is currently underway, the Army Corps of Engineers is removing structural debris, ash, and contaminated soil. As of this week, 129 debris removal crews are operating daily in Altadena.

The fire scorched over 14,000 acres, destroyed more than 9,400 structures, and resulted in 17 confirmed fatalities, marking it as one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history.