IMPORTANT DEADLINE INFORMATION: The deadline for completion of property cleanup under a Debris and Ash Removal (DAR) plan for the 2020 Hennessey Fire and Glass Fire incidents was September 1, 2021. Property owners that have not completed the private Debris and Ash Removal (DAR) Plan cleanup process by the deadline, may be abated by court order and a lien placed on their property for the cost. Please call (707) 299-1350 or email [email protected] if you have any questions. 

Para obtener información y apoyo en español, llame a la línea de información del Condado de Napa al 707-299-1350.  

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROCESS

Debris and ash from residential and commercial fires contain many hazardous materials, created through the burning of synthetic and toxic materials. Household products such as gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides, freon, lead, asbestos, and other chemicals may have been stored in homes, garages, or sheds that burned in the fire. These materials can be present in the ash and soil following a fire. Exposures can occur by sifting through ash and debris, causing ash to become airborne and inhaled or ingested. The improper handling and disposal of hazardous material may impact you, the environment, and the general public health.

Local agencies significantly impacted by major wildfire incidents may receive additional resources for responding to the disaster from State and Federal agencies when a local public health emergency has been declared. As a result, the safe and appropriate removal of household hazardous waste (HHW) and debris and ash from burned properties is managed under the Consolidated Debris Removal Program. The Consolidated Debris Removal Program has two phases: Phase I, the removal of household hazardous waste and Phase II, the removal of other remaining fire-related debris. 

PHASE I - Household Hazardous Waste Assessment and Removal

Ash, debris, and fire damage of structures that have been red or yellow tagged may contain hazardous materials that can threaten public health. Due to a declaration of a Local Health Emergency, the removal of debris is prohibited until an inspection of the debris is conducted by specially trained hazardous materials teams. Phase I is the mandatory inspection and removal process of hazardous wastes from all burned properties before the removal of remaining structural debris and ash. The local public health declaration allows for a government agency to enter properties to assess and remove hazardous waste, and conduct assessments to ensure hazards are mitigated. County, state and federal agencies organize teams of experts to inspect your property and remove any household hazardous waste that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment such as batteries, herbicides, pesticides, propane tanks, asbestos siding, and paints. The Phase I HHW assessment and removal must be completed before any remaining debris and ash removal can begin in Phase II. 

PHASE II - Debris and Ash Removal

Phase II is the removal of structural debris and ash from a property once Phase I (hazardous waste removal) is complete. There are generally two options for Phase II debris and ash removal; a government option and a private option.

The government option is generally completed by CalOES and CalRecycle working for and under the direction of FEMA. This option requires submittal of the Right of Entry (ROE). The government option is done at no cost to the property owner. However, if owners have fire debris removal insurance they are required to assign that portion of the insurance proceeds to the County to cover the cost of debris removal.

The private option allows owners or their qualified contractors to remove debris and ash. To choose this option, after Phase 1 is complete property owners will submit a Debris and Ash Removal (DAR) Application and Plan and must comply with all the requirements contained therein. For homes built before 1990, owners must first have the property assessed by a Certified Asbestos Abatement Consultant. Any asbestos identified by the consultant must be removed by a licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractor. An asbestos survey/removal report must be provided prior to the acceptance of a DAR application and Plan. Private work completed under an approved DAR plan shall be at property owners’ expense. There will be no subsidy through local, State or Federal government. 

Important Notes: Fire debris is hazardous and extreme caution should be taken. Landfills and transfer stations will NOT accept any structural fire debris and ash without proper documentation from Napa County PBES. If a Phase II Public Debris Removal Program is offered for an incident, property owners may become ineligible to participate if they initiate any debris and ash removal on their own. 

Minor Burn Debris Removal and Cleanup: If a property only suffers minimal damage to small structure(s) less than 120 ft.²   in size and that debris and ash needs to be removed, please refer to the Small Structure Debris and Ash Removal (English) (Spanish) information.

Additional Information:

DTSC Website for Disaster-related Hazardous Waste Response

FEMA: After the Fire

Do burned trees on my property need to be removed?

Letter from the County Surveyor about the importance of conserving property corners and survey monumentation during the clean-up and rebuild process.

Frequently Asked Questions