Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Deadline to Submit Debris Removal Form Just One Week Away

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Local property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire have just one week left to submit Right of Entry forms for debris removal by United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Residents in Altadena and Pasadena have until April 15 to turn in the Right of Entry (ROE) form that allows crews onto their properties.

In total, 8,276 ROE forms have been transmitted to the Army Corps by local residents and people living in the Palisades for cleanup. The department is processing hundreds of ROEs daily and transmitting over 200 each day, ensuring that the cleanup continues at a steady pace.

Local residents can hire a private contractor for debris removal to opt out of the Army Corps of Engineers. However, they are still required to fill out an ROE.

The Army Corps of Engineers has significantly expanded its debris removal efforts in the Eaton footprint, with more than 80 crews now working to clear affected properties, up from less than 40 working in the area last month.

Three categories of properties are being prioritized: ecologically sensitive areas, communal areas and inhabited residences.

The ROE dashboard has been expanded to allow residents to upload additional documentation or address any issues directly. If an ROE status shows “additional information needed,” users can now click a link to submit required documents. For more assistance, residents can call the debris hotline and speak to a case manager to ensure their ROE is complete.

The Eaton Fire started on Jan. 7 in Eaton Canyon. Driven by harsh winds, the fire left 17 people dead, destroyed 9,000 homes and burned more than 14,000 acres.

More information can be obtained at https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/