Fire Debris Removal Right Of Entry Forms Due in 10 Days

Property owners affected by the catastrophic Los Angeles County wildfires that began in January have just over one week (until March 31)  to submit Right of Entry (ROE) forms to participate in the debris removal program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting the cleanup at no out-of-pocket cost to eligible property owners, but can only proceed once owners opt in by completing the required paperwork.

“The collection of ROEs is a critical component of recovery operations because work cannot begin until a property owner opts into the program by submitting a completed form to the County,” states the official announcement.

Debris cleanup for the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm began in January when the Federal Emergency Management Agency assigned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USACE to survey, remove, and dispose of debris from properties burned by the wildfires.

Phase 2 of the debris removal program began on February 11, when USACE teams started clearing fire-damaged metal, ash, and other general fire debris from residential properties. The Corps will also remove foundations if property owners specifically request this service on their ROE forms, as well as trees that are deemed a hazard or that a certified arborist determines are dead or likely to die within five years due to the fire.

The cleanup initiative follows the completion of Phase 1 on February 25, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control finished removing hazardous household materials (HHM) from accessible properties. This initial phase was automatic and required no action from property owners. Materials removed included lithium-ion batteries, paint, cleaners, solvents, oils, and pesticides.

Some properties with access and safety challenges had their hazardous materials removal deferred to Phase 2. These properties will be addressed by USACE once property owners submit their ROE forms.

Property owners who choose not to participate in the USACE debris removal program will become responsible for all permits, inspections, and other associated debris removal requirements and costs. Officials emphasized that signing up for the program does not impact eligibility for other Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance.

The ROE form serves as an agreement where property owners accept the conditions of participation and authorize USACE to access their property for cleanup activities. Coverage for debris and hazardous tree removal may be provided through insurance policies, with details about reimbursement available on pages 3 and 4 of the ROE form.

Complete ROE forms can be submitted through the County’s website, LA County Recovers, or at Disaster Recovery Centers. The forms must be received by March 31 to be eligible for the program.

For more information about disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and assistance applications, residents can visit CA.gov/LAFires or fema.gov/disaster/4856.