Residents impacted by the recent wildfires can register for free debris removal as part of Phase 1 of Los Angeles’ wildfire recovery plan to get ready for next steps.
The removal of hazardous materials and general debris cleanup will be the first two stages of the recovery process for the historically devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, Mayor Karen Bass and Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff stated Monday.
Toxic debris still litters the devastated communities and contaminates the air, even though authorities canceled the last evacuation orders about three weeks after the fires began. The Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities have spent over 500 employees and $100 million to remove lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous chemicals from damaged electric cars in Mike Montgomery’s area.
His words, “This is major,” “Everything you can think of is there, including burning plastics and household chemicals. It must be done correctly because it is a poisonous dump. It must be carried out by competent individuals.
Although there is no estimated completion date for Phase 1, householders can get ready for the next phase by choosing to pay for a specialized contractor approved to remove the remaining rubble or by opting for a free general debris cleanup from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Captain Jacob Raabe of the Los Angeles Fire Department stated, “If you opt-in to this form by March 31st of this year, the government will conduct your clean up at no cost to you.”
Both alternatives’ forms are available for residents to view here.
Hundreds of thousands of people had to evacuate their homes as a result of the catastrophic wildfires that destroyed around 40,000 acres. The Eaton and Palisades fires rank second and third, respectively, among the most damaging fires in California history.
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