75% Of Palisades Properties In Fire Cleanup Program Cleared Of Debris

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — About 75% of properties enrolled in the fire debris removal program — over 3,000 in the Palisades Fire area — have been cleared of debris, officials said this week.

“On behalf of the hundreds of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and contractors assisting with this operation, we are honored to be coordinating this historically fast and safe debris removal operation,” Colonel Jeff Palazzini, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. "We have removed nearly 900,000 tons of debris and cleared about 75% of our total opt-in properties ..."

"This is only possible with the continued support of our city, county, state and federal partners, and the engaged participation of the affected communities.”

Here are some more updates provided by officials this week:

• The Army Corps has cleared 3,107 properties as of Tuesday morning. That amounts to some 75% of the 4,166 properties that have opted in to the clearance program.
• Of those, 2,404 properties have received final sign off from the county, an Army Corps spokesperson told Patch.
• 54 permits for 40 addresses have been issued related to rebuilding efforts
• Hundreds of applications are in the process of being reviewed, according to Mayor Karen Bass' office.

“Rebuilding is underway — crews are working every day to remove debris in the Palisades and expedite the timeline to get families home,” Bass said. “Thanks to their work, the City is issuing new permits every week, rebuilding is underway across the Palisades, and our recovery effort is on track to be the fastest in modern California history.”