LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery is leading teams in Lake County to remove harmful debris left behind by the 3,929-acre Clayton fire.
CalRecycle is the state's authority on recycling, waste reduction and product reuse.
The debris removal operation got under way on Oct. 17 and is expected to last 60 to 90 days, the agency said.
The fire burned about 300 structures, 200 of which were residences, according to local officials.
So far, 130 Clayton fire sites have registered for the program, and debris removal is completed on 12 of them, according to CalRecycle.
“This is the fourth major fire to hit Lake County since 2015 and the fourth time CalRecycle has been called upon to help clear these burn sites so residents can rebuild,” CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline said. “Our crews, together with state and local partner teams, are moving forward with the care and urgency these disaster cleanups require.”
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services tasked CalRecycle with the design, implementation and oversight of the cleanup operations with assistance from Caltrans, the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Before debris removal could begin, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control had to clear affected properties of household hazardous waste, such as batteries, used oil, and other hazardous materials.
CalRecycle crews are now following a six-step process that begins with site documentation, and continues with site testing and analysis, debris removal, soil grading, confirmation sampling and erosion control.
Site documentation includes measuring and recording foundation, structures, debris, utility infrastructure and property-specific hazards.
The crews then move into site testing and analysis, in which they obtain and evaluate soil samples to establish cleanup goals for the project, and identify and remove asbestos-containing materials.
Debris removal – including metals and concrete for recycling, ash and soil for disposal – then takes place.
Crews next move into soil grading, which involves scraping and removing the remaining contaminated soil and smoothing the ground surface before sampling and analyzing soil and comparing the results for cleanup goals.
The final step is erosion control, during which crews implement stormwater best management practices to control sediment runoff and promote vegetation growth.
Homeowners who want to take advantage of CalRecycle’s free debris removal program must return signed “right of entry” forms to Lake County Environmental Health.
The forms can be downloaded at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Environmental_Health/Clayton__Valley__Rocky_and_Jerusalem_Fires.htm or http://www.lakecountyrecovers.com/ .
Additionally, forms may be picked up at the agency's Lakeport office, 922 Bevins Court in Lakeport, or at the debris removal operations center that has been established at 16195 Main St. in Lower Lake. Residents may call 707-994-2195 for assistance.
CalRecycle said those who wish to conduct their own cleanup may do so, but should be aware of all safety and environmental standards and requirements. Lake County has guidelines available for residents who wish to pursue this option.
As it's getting to work in Lake County, CalRecycle is wrapping up wildfire recovery operations for the 48,019-acre Erskine Fire in Kern County.
In Kern County, 302 sites have been registered and debris removal had been completed on all but one of them as of Wednesday, CalRecycle said.
On Oct. 20, crews completed debris removal and are currently focused on site testing and erosion control implementation. Once complete, Kern County can approve new building permits on the properties, according to CalRecycle.
CalRecycle debris removal under way in Clayton fire area
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On