The United States Army Corps of Engineers—USACE—is currently in the Los Angeles area to oversee Phase 2 debris clearance throughout the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones.
Why the USACE? Colonel Brian Sawser explained how the Corps was deployed at a recent meeting in Malibu. Debris removal from the 2018 Woolsey Fire was handled by the California Office of Emergency Services, although USACE did provide technical monitoring. This time, California Governor Gavin Newsom requested that the Corps handle the cleanup. That was a multi-step process that involved requesting FEMA assistance, and then asking that FEMA hire the Corps. to come in and do the cleanup.
“A national disaster declaration unlocks FEMA,” Sawser explained. During those negotiations, Governor Newsom requested [ACE] under the Stafford Act. He officially asked not only for FEMA assistance but for debris removal. ACE was effectively hired by FEMA to remove debris.”
USACE has experience with the aftermath of fires—teams were called in to clear the debris from the devastating 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, in Hawaii—but this assignment is massive and has many challenges.
The Corps, in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies, has completed debris removal at 1,390 properties destroyed by fire on Maui. That’s about how many homes and businesses have been destroyed just in the Malibu, Topanga and unincorporated Los Angeles County area during the Palisades fire, and not including the thousands and thousands of properties destroyed and damaged in Pacific Palisades and the Easton Fire footprint in Altadena and its environs.
Sawser is here from Tennessee, where he serves as Memphis District commander. His responsibilities include things like flood damage reduction and environmental stewardship, in addition to emergency operations. His team includes military and civilian Corps members who are experts at various aspects of emergency debris removal.
The Corps has had decades of disaster response experience, including cleaning sites contaminated with hazardous, toxic and even radioactive waste and material. They are also experts at dealing with coastal infrastructure. Approximately 300 coastal properties burned during the Palisades Fire and they present special challenges.
There are currently three structural coastal engineers who are assessing the debris removal process at the beach properties. Sawser called it a “very unique challenge.
“We cannot threaten Pacific Coast Highway with instability and we cannot threaten coastal resources,” he said.
Seawalls, caissons, and any other structures that are currently providing stability to PCH and the crumbling shoreline will be left in place, even if they are damaged.
“We are not messing with seawalls,” he explained. “Even if there’s a damaged sea wall, we are not touching it. We will comb the beach [for debris] and we will take concrete foundations on grade, but not below surface.
It remains unclear whether Caltrans will take a hand in shoring up the damaged and at risk roadway, or if the structures supporting the road will be the responsibility of property owners. Replacing seawalls and caissons can be extremely costly. If those structures on private property are all that is preventing the state highway from eroding or even collapsing into the ocean, that raises serious concerns.
Most of the properties in the Palisades Fire footprint have now been cleared of hazardous household waste and have been cleared for Phase II. The exceptions are some canyon and beach side houses that were too dangerous for the EPA crews to enter. They will be cleared by the Army Corps crews.
Sawser clarified that there are less than a thousand properties out of seven thousand in the Palisades Fire footprint that still may have hazardous materials—things like paint, automotive fluids, and propane tanks. He added that all of the known lithium batteries have been removed, although there still could be some under collapsed buildings.
Vehicles that burned in the public right of way have been removed. Those located on private property require a junk title. “We are working with the CHP to get those,” Sawser said.
Once ROE—Right of Entry—forms are completed, each property will be surveyed for debris removal. Crews need to know where septic systems or caissons are located, so heavy equipment doesn’t cause more damage.
Property owners will be notified 72 and 24 hours before crews arrive on their property and can be present for the survey but also for the debris clearance.
Property owners also have the option to opt out of government debris clearing and hire their own private contractor.
Sawser explained that the Army Corps does not charge property owners directly, but there are some strings attached. The entire cost of debris removal is taken by the federal government, but the state will have to pay some of it back. “You cannot have a duplication of benefit,” Sawser clarified.”If you have ACE remove your debris, you can’t also receive a check [for debris removal] from your insurance.”
Eventually, the state will ask for the debris removal money provided by the insurance company.
Some of that money may go towards debris removal not covered by the Army Corps, like septic tanks. Any portion of the earmark not used for debris removal will go to the state.
“Don’t spend that money,” Sawser cautions. “Eventually someone is going to ask for some of that.”
For homeowners with no or little insurance, having the Army Corps handle debris clearance comes at no cost.
Homeowners blessed with ample insurance may prefer to forego the government program and hire their own debris removers.
It’s a good idea to do research and ask questions before making a decision.
For those who do opt in, every property owner is invited to be on site during the debris clearance, or to send a representative. Property owners will be notified when crews are scheduled to survey property and before cleanup occurs. Sawser stressed that surveys are critically important to ensure that demolition crews know exactly what needs to be removed and where sensitive infrastructure like septic tanks are located, so heavy equipment won’t cause damage.
Some aspects of debris clearance are negotiable. Homeowners can request exemptions for their foundation if desired. Trees marked for removal can also be exempt by request. Extra paperwork is required in both instances. The Corps is earmarking trees in the fire ash footprint, or that arborists assess to be a hazard for removal—look for a dot of blue paint on the base of the tree—but property owners can make their own determination and sign a waiver.
Sawser stressed that the Corps is there to help people get back on their feet and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. ACE, he said, is moving as fast as humanly possible to clear debris, but it’s a massive job, one that is hindered by the recent rains, and it is going to take time to complete. The initial estimate was 18 months. The current estimate for completing most of Phase 2 is now one year.
The official numbers are daunting: USACE and the County estimate that approximately 4.25-4.5 million tons of fire-damaged debris must be removed (not including vehicles and trees.). Each property is unique, and timelines may vary depending on site conditions, permitting requirements, and other recovery operations. Factors such as weather conditions, geography, and hazardous material disposal. Logistical constraints may affect progress, and safety remains the primary concern.For more information, visit Los Angeles County’s comprehensive website for information and resources for survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires: Recovery.LACounty.gov, call USACE’s Debris Call Center: 213-308-8305, or visit https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Management/Los-Angeles-County-Wildfire-Debris-Removal-Mission/
