Placer County is working closely with owners of properties damaged during the 49 Fire in North Auburn to make sure ash and debris are cleaned up before an Oct. 15 deadline.
To date, debris has been removed from at least 52 out of the 70 commercial and residential properties affected by the Aug. 30 fire. “The community has really come together to clean up after the fire. Great progress has been made,” declared Jill Pahl, county Environmental Health Director.
On about half of the remaining properties, work has been done and is continuing. Staff has been in contact with most owners and continues to seek contact with those who have more work to do.
On Tuesday, the Placer County Board of Supervisors will be asked to approve a final tool in the clean-up process: a plan that would allow the county to have a contractor clean up properties in cases where owners are unable to meet the Oct. 15 deadline.
“Due to the hazardous constituents in the fire debris ash, debris removal must be completed in a timely manner to limit potential exposure to the remaining residences,” Pahl said.
To date, the county has provided advice to ensure clean-up work is completed in a safe and appropriate manner. In addition the County provided a debris bin program to help those who may have gaps in their insurance coverage to cover the debris clean-up.
The county is working closely with many property owners, particularly those with special circumstances that make meeting the Oct. 15 deadline difficult. “We are doing everything we can to help, but we have no choice but to make sure properties are cleaned up in a timely manner to protect the public health,” Pahl said.
“Within 30 days of the 49 Fire, the community most affected by the fire has cleared approximately 75% of the parcels,” stressed Rui Cunha, Program Manager, Placer County Office of Emergency Services. “This is unprecedented in California. We made a promise to the community that we would do everything within our power to make it possible for the community to work, live and play in their neighborhood again, free from the health and safety risk that fire debris poses. The community deserves every effort to make our promise real.”