500 Homes At Risk Of Missing Fire Cleanup — What To Know About The Deadline

LOS ANGELES, CA — Tuesday is the deadline for property owners impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires to opt in — or out — of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' free fire debris- removal program.

The deadline to complete "Right of Entry" forms, which allow the Army Corps to access properties and clear them of fire debris, was an extension of the original March 31 deadline.

Residents have two choices, according to officials:

• Opt in to the Army Corps program and have their properties cleared of debris for free
• Opt out of the program and instead have private contractors remove the debris. This option requires property owners to obtain all necessary permits and inspections on their own.

"We are throwing everything we have at this cleanup to get people back in their homes quickly," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "The fast pace of this recovery makes it even more important to sign up today."

As of last week, more than 1,700 properties have been fully cleared of debris, according to Newsom's office.

As of Friday, about 500 property owners had not completed the Right of Entry forms, according to Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

"Even if you're opting out, we need to know which steps you are taking so we can coordinate a swift and safe debris-removal process," Horvath said.

Officials are encouraging property owners who are considering private debris removal to opt in to the Army Corps process anyway, as they can opt out at a later date — but cannot opt in after the deadline.

The debris removal program previously included only single-family homes, but officials last month expanded it to include owner-occupied condominiums, multi-family properties and some commercial properties, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Commercial properties will be evaluated on criteria including whether they present an immediate threat to public health and safety, if the commercial property owner faces barriers to completing the debris-removal process and the economic impact of the debris removal on the owner and community.

Property owners can complete the forms online or at Disaster Recovery Centers located at the UCLA Research ParkWest, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, or in Altadena at 540 W. Woodbury Road.

City News Service contributed to this report.