Deadline approaching for Kincade fire debris removal plans

Jan. 10--Sonoma County officials are advising property owners whose homes or structures were destroyed by the Kincade fire to submit their debris removal plans before the deadline at the end of the month and avoid potential legal action.

The blaze destroyed 374 structures and burned 77,758 acres last fall, creating the largest wildfire scar in the county's history.

Many property owners have completed the necessary documentation, but county officials this week wanted to remind those impacted that the Jan. 31 deadline is approaching.

In a statement, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin said her sympathies remain with residents who lost homes during the fire, and expressed the county's commitment to help them recover.

"It is critical that clean-up be done safely and timely to protect both public health and our watersheds, which is why we are asking property owners, regardles of if you have insurance or not, to reach out to us for help with this process," Gorin said.

The first step is a hazardous waste cleanup performed at no cost to help inspect and remove any environmental threats such as pesticides, batteries, asbestos siding and paints, a news release said.

Property owners then have to hire a contractor to remove fire debris and document how that process will go. The debris removal application and a sample of the work plan has to be filed with the county by the Jan. 31 deadline.

Any properties that fail to submit those documents will be subject to abatement proceedings, a legal process that results in a property being declared a public nuisance and makes the owner responsible for all associated costs.

The entire debris removal process has to be completed by May 15.

Anyone needing assistance is encouraged to contact Environmental Health and Safety at 707-565-6700 or ehdebrisremoval@sonoma-county.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @YousefBaig.

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