Newsom touts ‘unprecedented’ speed of launching Phase 2 of debris removal in SoCal wildfire zones​on February 12, 2025 at 7:11 am

ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began removing fire debris Tuesday from private properties damaged or destroyed by the January wildfires, hailing the milestone as a major advancement achieved in record time.

“Today we take another step toward rebuilding not just homes and businesses, but hope itself,” FEMA Regional Administrator Bob Fenton said at a news conference at the Eaton Fire burn area in Altadena.

He said the debris-removal process “is about making properties safe, restoring the land and preparing for what comes next.”

FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with L.A. County and impacted municipalities, are moving onto properties of survivors who submitted a form, known as a Right of Entry form, to remove fire-damaged structures such as concrete and metal, ash and hazardous trees.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the beginning of the so-called “Phase 2” debris-removal work is occurring with “unprecedented” speed, beginning just 35 days since the fires erupted. He said that is twice as fast as the process took following the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

According to Newsom, of the thousands of people who have submitted Right of Entry forms allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to clear debris for free from private properties, only 315 people have opted out of the program. Those people will have to hire their own contractors to remove debris.

The governor said “the vast majority of people have decided to get this done for free.”

State, federal and local officials were expected to gather near the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades Tuesday afternoon to mark the start of residential clearance work in that burn area.

Meanwhile, residents in the Eaton Fire zone have expressed mixed feelings over the process of removing the debris and handling hazardous materials in the area.

Residents in the Altadena area expressed mixed feelings over the debris-removal process and the handling of hazardous materials in the aftermath of the destructive Eaton Fire.

Some said they’re happy that the process is advancing speedily, while others said they have concerns about hazmat protocols.

During a news briefing Monday, federal officials noted the start of residential debris clearance marked a major milestone in the wildlife recovery process.

“Residents in impacted areas will notice an increase in truck traffic, equipment movement and work crews over the coming days, weeks and months,” said Col. Eric Swenson, commander of the USACE’s Recovery Field Office. “We do ask for your patience and understanding as we work to remove debris and reduce the long-term risk for the entire L.A. County community.”

Right of Entry forms are available at any FEMA Disaster Recovery Center and online at recovery.lacounty.gov. The deadline to complete the forms is March 31.

Receiving the forms means the Corps will be able to begin clearing debris from residential properties that were destroyed in the blazes, as soon as they are cleared of hazardous materials by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Fenton said more than 7,300 of the forms had been filed as of Monday.

The EPA’s hazardous waste operations are considered Phase 1 of the debris-removal process. Once properties are cleared, residents can choose to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to clear other debris under Phase 2.

The USACE began Phase 2 work last week at five Pasadena Unified School District campuses that were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. According to the agency, debris has been cleared from the Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Franklin Elementary School and Noyes Elementary School.

At the end of the week, debris removal will begin at some schools in Pacific Palisades.

Swenson said the agency will take every precaution such as a water suppression technique to minimize air quality concerns. Additionally, the agencies urge drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to remain alert around work zones and heavy equipment.

“Our goal is to help families take the first steps toward rebuilding by removing fire debris safely, urgently and with responsibility,” Swenson said.

City News Service contributed to this report.