Pasadena foundation provides $450K to nonprofits for fire recovery
LA County DA, state legislators seek crackdown on fire looting
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Thursday, February 13-February 19, 2025
Federal agencies begin fire debris removal on private properties
VOL. 13,
Newsom, Magic Johnson, LA Rises warn fire victims of 'property predators'
By Joe Taglieri
By Joe Taglieri
joet@beaconmedianews.com
joet@beaconmedianews.com
T
he Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began removing fire debris Tuesday from private properties damaged or destroyed in the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Crews from LA County and cities in fire zones will enter the properties of survivors who submitted a Right of Entry form OK-ing the removal of concrete, metal, ash, hazardous trees and other fire-damaged materials. During a news conference Monday, officials said the debris removal was a major milestone for wildlife recovery efforts. "Residents in impacted areas will notice an increase in truck traffic, equipment movement and work crews over the coming days, weeks and months," said Col. Eric Swenson, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers' Recovery Field Office. "We do ask for your patience and understanding as we work to remove debris and reduce the long-term risk for the entire LA County community." Right of Entry forms, which must be submitted
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Magic Johnson warns fire-affected stakeholders about illegal offers to buy their land. | Photo courtesy of cagovernor/Instagram
A Workers clear fire debris. | Photo courtesy of FEMA/X
by March 31, are available at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers and on the internet, recovery.lacounty.gov/ debris-removal. When the Corps of Engineers receives the form, crews will be authorized to start removing debris from residential properties destroyed in the wildfires after the EPA has cleared away hazardous materials during Phase 1 of the cleanup task. Household hazardous materials that raise concerns include pesticides, damaged fuels,
propane tanks, lithium ion batteries of varying sizes and any toxic substances that potentially could harm returning residents and workers during Phase 2 debris work. So far LA County received over 7,300 Right of Entry forms, officials said. When properties are cleared of toxic substances and forms are competed, residents may choose to allow debris clearance free of charge led by the Corps See Debris removal Page 15
of Engineers in Phase 2 of the recovery effort. Residents also have the option of instead hiring their own contractors to clear debris. The corps has begun Phase 2 debris clearance at five campuses in the Pasadena Unified School District that were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Debris has been cleared from the Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Franklin Elementary School and Noyes Elementary School, officials reported.
new public service announcement featuring NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson warns homeowners in fire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles County to be wary of "property predators" seeking to illegally purchase land with lowball offers, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced Friday. LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman and Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter joined the governor and Johnson in the announcement through LA Rises, a relief organization created in the wake of the deadly, devastating wildfires. The new PSA alerts fire
victims to predatory real estate speculators and highlights protections under Newsom's recent executive order banning "unsolicited, undervalued offers" in fire-impacted zip codes "to prevent opportunistic investors from exploiting families in crisis," according to the governor's office. “Too many of you are getting hit up out of the blue by people making unaskedfor, lowball offers on your property. You do not need to take these offers," Johnson said in the PSA. "This is your land, and you know what it’s worth. “Those kinds of offers are currently illegal, because
See Property predators Page 31
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