June 13, 2023 - SACRAMENTO – Helping survivors of last year’s wildfires prepare to rebuild, California has completed state-managed debris removal operations for the 2022 wildfire season centered in Siskiyou County. Debris removal crews cleared, tested and released all 218 enrolled properties impacted by the Mountain, McKinney and Mill fires.

Overseen by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the state works with counties to sign up households for the Consolidated Debris Removal Program to clear eligible fire-related debris from burned properties at no cost to property owners.

“Removing disaster debris gives survivors a path to rebuild,” said Rachel Machi Wagoner, Director of CalRecycle. “We thank our state, local and federal partners for their shared commitment to assisting the communities devastated by wildfires.”

State crews cleared burned metal and concrete, ash, and contaminated soil from the last of the 183 homes, as well as 7,027 wildfire-damaged trees in danger of falling on public rights of way.

“We’re proud to work with our partners to ensure wildfire survivors can properly recover and rebuild following an intense fire season,” said Ryan Buras, Cal OES Deputy Director of Recovery.

Cal OES continues to provide technical and financial assistance to Placer, El Dorado and Madera counties managing debris removal from the Mosquito and Fork fires.

Among the communities affected by the 2022 fires was historic Lincoln Heights in Weed, one of the oldest rural Black neighborhoods in the west.

California has safely cleared over 23,000 disaster destroyed properties from 60 fires since operations began in 2007.
Source: Cal OES