State acts to restart fire-zone cleanup
Cleanup crews are rolling into four fire-scorched Northern California counties again after the state approved a new agreement for debris removal, sidestepping a dispute that had property owners worried about how quickly they could begin rebuilding.
Debris removal was halted last week in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties when AshBritt Inc., a Florida company that unsuccessfully bid for the work, filed a challenge against two contractors hired for the job.
AshBritt argued to the federal Government Accountability Office that the firms might not be able to meet deadlines laid out in the contracts for clearing residential and commercial properties that were destroyed in the October fires. But state officials authorized a new agreement that will allow the work to go forward while the protests against those companies — ECC International Constructors of Burlingame and Ceres Environmental Services of Minnesota — are sorted out.
Officials say the state will be reimbursed for the work done under the new contract with just ECC. Originally, ECC won a $174 million deal from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clear lots in Sonoma County, and Ceres was awarded $26 million to do the same in the three other counties.
“California is focused on remov-
ing the hazardous fire debris from these counties to expedite the recovery process for survivors and their communities,” Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said Monday.
More than 1 million tons of debris already have been removed from counties affected by October’s wildfires. But there is still much to be done: In some neighborhoods, like Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park, numerous chimneys tower above rubble-covered lots.
More than 8,000 homes were destroyed in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties during the fires. Officials hope to have their lots cleared by the beginning of March, when construction season typically begins.
“This was the largest cleanup in history, certainly in California and maybe the nation,” said Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt. “It’s a massive undertaking, and one that needs to continue moving forward. Our goal is to get in and out before springtime, so people can get on with their lives. The sooner that happens, the better.”
AshBritt representatives did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
Nancy Allen, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which awarded the cleanup contracts, said the state’s decision cleared the way for work to resume. Already, ECC International Constructors has crews in the field.
“People are anxious to get their properties clean and get on with rebuilding,” said company Vice President August Ochabauer. “People just want to rebuild their community.”
Allison Spitzer, who lives in Coffey Park, said a short delay wasn’t a bother. All that matters to her is getting her lot cleared by spring so she can start rebuilding the home where she and her family lived.
“I tease my husband that we’ll be the last one to be cleared at this rate,” said Spitzer, 41, who works as a commercial lender at a bank. “As long as I keep pushing forward and they have cleaned my lot by the time I’m ready to build, you won’t see frustration from me. We will see what the spring brings.”