Want to have the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) clear Eaton Fire debris from your property for free? If so, the deadline to file the required “Right of Entry” form is less than a week out.
There is no out-of-pocket cost to have debris removed by USACE. The deadline for ROE form submittal is March 31, 2025.
Debris cleanup for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County began in January. FEMA assigned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USACE to survey, remove, and dispose of debris from properties burned by the wildfires.
As part of this effort, Los Angeles County established a Debris Removal Web site with information and resources for fire-impacted residents to learn more about the debris clearance process. In Phase 1 of the process, which was completed on February 25, the EPA removed hazardous household materials (HHM) from private property. No action from the property owner was required for Phase 1 to be completed. Hazardous household materials removal associated with properties where structural hazards precluded safe entry were deferred to USACE.
Phase 2, conducted by USACE, consists of structural debris removal and requires an ROE form completed by the property owner, which is provided on the Los Angeles County Web site and available at Disaster Recovery Centers. Free private property debris removal by USACE is only available if the eligible property owner opts in by completing and submitting the ROE form by the deadline.
The ROE form is an agreement where property owners accept the conditions of participation in the debris removal program and give permission for USACE to access their property for cleanup activities.
Signing up for the debris removal program via the ROE does NOT impact a property owner’s eligibility to apply for other FEMA disaster assistance If a property owner opts out of the USACE debris removal program, they become responsible for all permits, inspections and other associated debris removal requirements and costs.
Coverage for debris and hazardous tree removal may be provided through your insurance policy. For information about insurance reimbursement, refer to pages 3 and 4 of the ROE form.
What is the Debris Removal Program?
The Debris Removal Program has two phases: removal of hazardous household materials followed by removal of other fire-related debris and trees that are deemed a hazard or that a certified arborist determines are dead or likely to die within five years due to the fire.
Phase 1: Removing Hazardous Materials
On January 16, teams of experts from EPA and California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control began assessing properties in the burn areas to remove any hazardous household materials that could pose a threat to human health and the environment such as lithium-ion batteries, paint, cleaners and solvents, oils and pesticides. This phase was automatic and completed at no cost to residents. EPA only removed hazardous materials. Examples of devices that contain lithium-ion batteries removed in Phase 1 and include: electric/hybrid vehicles, power tools, power banks, home alarms, drones, and tablets.
Phase 1 was completed on February 25. While most properties were cleared of hazardous household materials during Phase 1, some have been deferred to Phase 2 due to access and safety challenges. For more information, please visit: 2025 California Wildfires | US EPA
Phase 2: Debris Removal
On February 11, USACE, at the direction of FEMA, began removing fire-damaged metal, ash, and other general fire debris from residential properties. USACE will also remove foundations if property owners have opted to include foundation removal on the ROE. The collection of ROEs is a critical component of recovery operations because work cannot begin until a property owner opts into the program by submitting a completed form to the County.
ROE forms are available on the County’s Web site LA County Recovers.
Local News Pasadena reporting on natural disasters is supported, in part, by generous grants from the Institute for Nonprofit News and PEN America.
