The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has hundreds of personnel and thousands of contractors actively working on Phase 2 of debris removal from the Palisades and Eaton fires. Original estimates thought Phase 1 debris removal would take upwards of 18 months, but was completed in 6 months. Phase 1, supervised by the EPA, covered the initial phase of removing hazardous materials. Phase 2 is removing fire-related debris from private properties, such as ash, structural remains, chimneys, and hazardous trees. On a property-by-property basis, Phase 1 was completed before Phase 2 removal could begin. Phase 1 and Phase 2 work was happening concurrently throughout the area for both the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire areas.
Right of Entry (ROE) forms must be submitted and are required to opt-in to having the USACE clear the property of fire debris at no-cost to the homeowner. As of August 3rd, 3,805 ROE forms have been signed off on in Pacific Palisades–5,488 ROEs in Eaton have been signed off on. Please note, however, if your insurance covers debris removal, the government may seek reimbursement. If you opt for private contractors, ensure they are licensed and experienced in fire debris removal, and that there is proper oversight to their activities. Proper documentation showing that debris removal is complete, such as weight tickets and hazardous waste manifests, must be obtained and submitted before a fire rebuilding permit will be approved. Once issued, a building permit is valid for 12months. If construction hasn’t commenced within this period, you may need to reapply.
Facts of Note
An estimated 4.5 million tons of debris must be removed from the Eaton and Palisades fires. To provide some context, the 2023 Maui fires had approximately 400,000 tons of debris.
[Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]
On Monday, July 7, 2025, Governor Newsom signed an Executive Order that suspends rooftop solar and battery storage installation requirements for those rebuilding homes that were lost in the January 2025 wildfires. Residents rebuilding their homes are no longer required to install rooftop solar panels or battery storage systems. However, homes must still be solar-ready and include the wiring and space needed for solar in the future. To learn more, click here.
[source: LA County Recovers]
Questions
The USACE has established a Debris Call Center to help answer questions regarding Private Property Debris Removal. Hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; call 213-308-8305 for assistance.
