Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and federal government agencies have nearly completed the cleanup of the ruins left by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County as of the end of August. What started with 140 cleanup teams at its peak has now dwindled to 14 teams in early August, with some follow-up work scheduled for September.
Initially, the Army Corps of Engineers had set a goal to finish all property cleanup related to the fire before its first anniversary in February. This included clearing about 185,000 truckloads of debris. However, the progress has been ahead of schedule by several months. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been involved in the cleanup efforts, collaborating with the state and county governments in California.
The EPA has been responsible for the initial hazardous materials cleanup phase, while the Army Corps of Engineers has been handling the second phase of clearing the ruins. This federally funded initiative provides free cleanup of disaster-affected properties identified by local, state, and federal governments upon submission of a consent form by property owners. The second phase can be carried out concurrently with the first phase.
“Our main contractor is ECC, working for FEMA. There are also companies recruited by the Army, where many talented individuals with extensive experience in debris cleanup, some even from out of state and as far as the East Coast, have gathered together,” said Mr. Tran, who is in charge of risk assessment within the construction team. He has been working in the Altadena disaster area since January.
The cleanup work includes removing remnants of walls, chimneys, hazardous trees that might die or fall within five years, ashes, debris, and ash-covered areas with soil up to six inches thick, as well as human remains.
Tran mentioned how the sky was pitch black when they arrived, with “acid snow” falling continuously for several days, grains acidic like snow. He recounted a heartbreaking incident of discovering a deceased homeowner – an elderly woman who chose not to evacuate during the fire and was tragically found in her house. In total, 19 individuals lost their lives in the fire.
The Eaton Fire ignited on January 7th at 6:18 PM, and within half an hour, residents in the eastern part of the city received fire alerts on their phones. Subsequently, an “evacuate immediately” emergency alert was sent out 40 minutes later. However, in the western region of Altadena, the evacuation order was issued over nine hours after the fire broke out. The first evacuation order was issued at 3:25 AM on January 8th, resulting in at least 15 fatalities in the area, with another area receiving an evacuation order at 5:42 AM and at least two casualties. Many elderly individuals perished in the Eaton Fire, including two over the age of 90, five over 80 (including one of Chinese descent), and four over 70.
“The fire came down from the mountains, spreading westward with the wind, resulting in more houses being destroyed in the western region,” Tran explained. They also came across animal carcasses – a grim sight with coyotes, raccoons, rodents, and snakes, and some colleagues even encountered deer and bears, witnessing the tragic loss of wildlife.
A retired firefighter, moved by the devastation, decided to assist in the cleanup efforts. Reflecting on his decision, he mentioned the catastrophic Camp Fire of 2018 that razed Paradise town, destroying 18,804 structures and claiming 85 lives. Setting sights on assisting in the current cleanup, he considered it not only a job but a chance to aid many.
In early August, near Altadena Triangle Park, the reporter witnessed two construction teams at work. One team was clearing the area around the Altadena Community Church, while the other was working on several houses behind the Christian Science Churches Reading Room that narrowly escaped the fire. The day was bright and the air clearer.
Tran noted the improved air quality compared to the initial months of the cleanup. While they had to wear masks daily before, now the need has diminished along with reduced dust exposure, necessitating precautions like using tape to remove dust from clothes.
Each morning, air quality checks were conducted at the construction site, as invisible harmful substances could linger in the ostensibly clear air. A cylindrical device separated inhaled air into particles for harmful substance concentration tests. If levels were too high, construction activities could be halted temporarily.
Soil and water contamination testing were crucial. “Every property differs; some may contain more metals or pollution from smoke due to varied paints and building materials used,” Tran explained. Unique colorings in the soil prompted the team to apply agents combating harmful substances or impeding unusual biological growth.
“All cleanup adheres to federally-set standards. We aim for a thorough cleaning,” Tran declared. While most properties are planned for a 2-3 day cleanup, some could extend to a week or even longer based on specific requirements. Properties with large trees necessitated careful inspection for internal damage or risk of falling. Consent from property owners was mandated prior to the removal of hazardous trees, cut into segments for transportation post-assessment, ensuring compliance with the law.
Many property owners were unaware of underground pipelines, including extensive water mains and septic tanks, necessitating reassessment and communication for safety. Tran pointed out the presence of remnants and artifacts from Native American tribes in the area, requiring coordination with indigenous preservation organizations for inspection, honoring the area’s long-standing history.
A heap of assorted metal cluttered a yard behind Tran, earmarked for sorting and subsequent recycling. While most building materials comprised wood, reinforcing bars were found in foundations. Concrete walls retained water, which was released upon burning, leading to structural collapse—a phenomenon that also required cleanup.
Documentation of each waste-carrying vehicle, including driver details for prompt tracking in case of theft, was imperative post-large fires. Intrusions and theft post-fire were not uncommon, with valuable items stolen from surviving homes and vehicles parked on the streets. Tran highlighted the prevalence of vintage cars targeted for precious metal theft by thieves, underscoring the remaining tasks’ urgency to conclude by year-end.
The construction teams worked seven days a week, rotating 12-hour shifts. Some individuals from Northern California stayed on-site for seven to eight months, separated from their families. Tran, who has been working for over seven months, initially found it draining after each shift but noted a gradual adjustment to the demands. He recognized that all efforts and experiences would accumulate into valuable assets for the future.
Amid ongoing cleanup, AT&T maintenance vehicles and a few houses in reconstruction were observed by the journalist. Despite the simplification of reconstruction approval processes in fire-affected areas by the government, funding remained a challenge for many property owners.
Surveyor Louis was seen marking terrain on properties with the tag “Cleared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers” for topographic measurements. He elaborated on their role, involving land surveying to assess land conditions and property boundaries for subsequent computer mapping. This mapping process typically took a month post-field measurements, requiring collaboration with engineers, architects, and planners, with expedited services available upon client demand for a fee.
In conclusion, the comprehensive cleanup operations, marked by meticulous attention to detail, safety protocols, and community collaboration, aimed to restore the fire-ravaged region back to its former state. The enduring commitment and sacrifices of individuals involved in the cleanup underscored the resilience and solidarity in times of adversity, embodying the unwavering spirit of restoration and renewal in the face of calamity.