The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday, April 7, said for the great majority of property owners in the Eaton fire area, Phase-2 debris removal could be completed as early as late summer.
Col. Sonny Avichal provided the update during the weekly Altadena Community Meeting.
“Our commitment continues to be that we are going to be complete January 2026, however, we do expect that for the great majority of property owners we should be complete late summer, early fall,” Avichal said.
He reported that 885 right of entry forms have been returned to Los Angeles County meaning the entire debris removal process has been completed at those properties. In addition, removal of fire ash debris has been completed at approximately 1,900 properties.
Those properties still have work to be completed that could include removing hazardous trees and fencing around pools, Avichal said.
As of Monday morning, Avichal said that 123 debris removal crews and 92 asbestos abatement crews were working in Altadena.
Last week the army corps began operating a debris recycling site at the Altadena Golf Course. Avichal said that the site is now processing between 100 to 150 trucks worth of material on a daily basis.
Nearby residents of the golf course have protested the use of the site citing noise and safety concerns.
The Army Corps said the site will process clean concrete, steel and vegetative debris reducing the debris and resulting in fewer trucks having to travel from Altadena to the landfill.