Mission Overview
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that 4,250,000 tons of structural ash, metal, debris, soil and foundations will be removed during this event. This total does not include vehicles or damaged trees.
- The consolidated Debris Removal Program resulting from the LA County Wildfires in January 2025 is a two-phase process:
- Phase 1: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked to conduct Household Hazardous Material (HHM) collection and disposal to protect public health and safety in impacted communities. HHM includes but is not limited to paints, solvents, pesticides, batteries, propane tanks and bulk asbestos-containing materials (ACM). [See details here.]
- Phase 2: The Corps of Engineers was tasked to support FEMA and the Consolidated Debris Removal Program in the affected cities and communities. Objectives of this mission include 1) Reducing immediate threats to public health and safety, and 2) Expediting economic recovery of the affected cities and communities. These efforts involve the removal of ash, burned structural remains, hazardous materials, foundations, ACM, vehicles, vessels, contaminated soil and debris from private and public properties.
- Property Rights of Entry (ROEs) are required for the Corps of Engineers to conduct Phase 2 of fire debris management. Property owners deciding to “opt out” of this government program must hire their own contractors – at the owner’s expense. [See details here.]
- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is coordinating the debris-removal process in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- Phase 2 is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and in partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
- The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that more than 4,250,000 tons of structural ash, metal, debris, soil and foundations will be removed during this event. This total does not include vehicles and damaged trees.
- Right-of-Entry forms and debris removal program information is available on the LA County website. [See details here.]
- The form can be downloaded, completed online, or filled out at one of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers with the help of a Disaster Response Coordinator. [Current DRC locations can be found @ https://recovery.lacounty.gov/recovery-centers/].
- Property owners with questions about eligibility, operations or other concerns can contact the USACE Debris Removal Information Line at (213) 308-8305.
- The line is staffed from 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., 7 days a week and is the gateway to the Issue Resolution Process.
Scheduling and Operations
Q: What is a Right of Entry (ROE) form?
A: A Right of Entry form gives government contractors permission to access your property and begin the private property debris removal (PPDR) clean-up process. This process will include all fire-damaged debris. These forms were coordinated between Los Angeles County and the Army Corps of Engineers. The final deadline for submitting is March 31, 2025 (as of today).
Q: How does the Army Corps of Engineers decide which properties will be cleared and when?
A: Contractors are responsible for planning their work, based on priorities set by Los Angeles County with input from city governments, to maximize efficiency.
Q: Will the cleanup work and transport be conducted at night?
A: Yes.
Q: What debris is being removed, and why?
A: Debris falls into two broad categories: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and fire-related debris, such as timber, bricks, mortar, etc. HHW is being removed in the first phase of debris removal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As removal of HHW is completed, Phase II will start. In Phase II, Army Corps of Engineers contractors will follow behind the EPA and begin removing burned remnants of homes, public properties, and other contaminated structures.
Q: Who is the contractor hired by the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the debris removal work and how will I know if they are legitimate?
A: ECC is the prime contractor for debris removal but will be hiring local subcontractors to help with the process.
Q: What is the expected timeline for debris to be removed from a property?
A: The Army Corps of Engineers is aiming for debris to be safely removed in two-to-three days PER PROPERTY. This timeline can change depending on the size of the lot or parcel, the amount of debris, inclement weather and other factors, so it may take longer to remove debris.
Q: Who is supervising the debris removal contractors? How do we know the work is being done properly?
A: The Army Corps of Engineers has a robust Quality Assurance (QA) program. Our QA representatives and supervisors are in the field to provide oversight of government contractors, ensuring compliance with the contract terms and approved debris removal operations plan, and correcting safety issues.
Q: What is the “ash footprint” I keep hearing about on the news and why is it important? Will the Army Corps of Engineers contractors clear our entire lot or only the ash footprint?
A. The “ash footprint” is defined as the area where debris from your structures settled after the fire.
- Contractors will determine the ash footprint during the site assessment.
- Generally speaking, items outside the ash footprint – including patios, landscaping, non-hazardous trees, extended driveways, etc. – will NOT be removed under the private property debris removal program; however, each property will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- There are always exceptions, for example, trees or other vegetation may need to be removed for the safety of debris removal crews or debris might have landed on the driveway, which would necessitate removal.
Q: Where will the debris be taken once removed from my property?
A: Debris is being separated into metals, concrete, soil and ash. Recyclable materials, such as concrete and metal, are being recycled by area facilities. Other items are being disposed in approved hazardous waste landfills, due to ash being considered a public health threat.
Q. Are driveways being removed as part of the program?
A. Driveways are not eligible for the private property debris removal program and contractors will not remove them; however, there may be instances where portions of a driveway were in the ash footprint and must be removed.
Q. Are burned cars being removed as part of the program?
A. Yes, burned cars on private property are being removed as part of the Consolidated Debris Removal Program. USACE, FEMA and CALOES are working with the California DMV on this effort. In some cases, the car may be one of the last items removed during the final preparation phase.
Q: If I want to contact the Army Corps of Engineers, who can I call?
A: For questions about debris removal eligibility, operations or other concerns, you can reach the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at its Debris Removal Information Line at (213) 308-8305. The line is staffed from 6 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., seven days a week. (Response times will vary due to call volume.) You can also email us at: socalwildfires@usace.army.mil.