Ash and Debris CONTRACTORS will be responsible for identifying the appropriate

facility. Soil and Debris CONTRACTORS will be responsible for identifying the
appropriate facility. Demolition Debris (Damaged Homes) CONTRACTORS will be
responsible for identifying the appropriate facility. Asbestos CONTRACTORS will be
responsible for identifying the appropriate facility. This material will be disposed of at the
Anderson Landfill as possible Asbestos Containing Waste. Trees and Vegetation
CONTRACTORS will be responsible for identifying the appropriate facility. Metal
Debris CONTRACTORS will be responsible for identifying the appropriate facility.
Metal Discards (Appliances) Freon Extraction is REQUIRED for intact refrigerators.
Check with identified metal recyclers to determine if they are in compliance with the
Metallic Discard Act. Note: Furnaces shall be checked for asbestos before disposal.
Vehicles and Trailers Vehicles and/or trailers that did not sustain damage or vehicles
and/or trailers that sustained minor damage will be left on the property. These vehicles
and/or trailer may be moved by the CONTRACTORS to ensure worker safety and as
needed to complete the debris removal. Concrete CONTRACTORS will be responsible
for identifying the appropriate facility. Tires CONTRACTORS will be responsible for
identifying the appropriate disposal or recycling facility. DEBRIS REMOVAL
OPERATIONS PLAN FOR TRINITY, CA PAGE 16 Other Hazardous Waste
CONTRACTOR will be responsible for identifying the appropriate facility. Household
Hazardous Waste (HHW) Unlikely. DTSC has performed a HHW assessment and sweep
of the impacted area and removed identified HHW. If additional HHW is discovered, the
HHW will be segregated by the CalRecycle and/or the CONTRACTORS to a temporary
onsite storage. As necessary the DTSC will collect, transport, and dispose the HHW.
Human Remains CalRecycle will coordinate with the County to locate any human
remains. If human remains are located the work will stop and CalRecycle will contact the
County. Due care of the remains will be taken. Dead Animals If dead animals are
discovered, they will be disposed of in accordance with local restrictions with the ash and
debris, unless directed by the homeowner. UXO (Unexploded Ordinance) Unlikely. With
the high temperatures occurring during the wildfire incident, the likelihood of discovering
any UXO is remote. If UXO is discovered the CONTRACTORS shall notify CalRecycle
so proper disposal can occur by the Trinity County Sheriff Department. Radioactive
Debris Unlikely. All impacted lots will be screened for radiation before removal. If
radioactive debris is encountered, the material will be removed and properly disposed of
by CalRecycle and its CONTRACTORS. Medical Waste Unlikely. If medical wastes are
discovered, they will be properly bagged and transported to the appropriate facility by
CalRecycle and its CONTRACTORS. Small quantities of sharps (e.g., needles and illegal
drug items) will be removed and disposed of by CalRecycle and its CONTRACTORS
consistent with local and state programs.
Evidence and Debris Removal
Two issues that interrelate with the conducting of the origin and cause investigation and are
intimately tied to that process include the identification and retention of evidence and the
subsequent removal of debris from the investigation site.

Specifically outlining the debris removal process is done because this issue may cause
extreme problems in the overall investigation operation. Many times with multiple party
litigation there is considerable dialogue regarding the actual process of how the debris is to
be removed and disposed of. It is advantageous at the early stages to try and agree, by a
consensus of the parties, as to how the site will be excavated and the debris removed. If the
debris does not have environmental contamination, then it can be disposed according to the
jurisdiction where the fire occurred. If in fact there are environmental issues involved, then it
may require special handling before it can be disposed of in an appropriate way. Again, the
management investigator will need to work with companies that can provide the specific
equipment needs for debris removal.
In some cases it may be necessary to develop a protocol or "memorandum of
understanding" that documents and addresses not only debris removal, but the investigation
process as a whole. This has been utilized very effectively in the past in many other large
scale investigations where all par-ties basically arrive at an understanding that is categorized
as a "memorandum of understanding." This document sets forth all of the parties' issues with
respects to how the investigation will be con-ducted.
The second item that is separately addressed under this section is the handling of the
evidentiary issues relating to a particular large loss fire. Without question this can be the
most important aspect of the entire investigation which relates to the identification, tagging,
photographs/video taping and persevering the evidence for future examinations. The process
of identifying, tagging, photographing, video taping and preserving the evidence is not
altogether complicated. What does complicate matters is if you have multiple parties that are
involved with their teams tagging different pieces of evidence. There needs to be a
standardized tagging and identification process so that all the evidence and the parties that
tag the evidence can be recorded properly. Once all evidence has been identified, tagged,
and photographed, (this should be done while all the evidence is still in place prior to
removal from the building) and all parties examine all of the tagged evidence, then a
systematic process of removing it from the site can be employed.
Before the evidence is totally removed from its previous location, steps need to be taken in
order to identify locations where the evidence can be effectively stored. Warehouses or mini
storage facilities can be obtained on a cost-sharing basis with all parties involved in the
investigation so that the evidence is stored in a controlled environment. Multiple locks can be
employed so that it takes more than one party to achieve access to a specific
warehouse/mini storage facility. This provides the security necessary to ensure the condition
of the evidence until all parties can be present to examine the evidence in a systematic
manner.
Depending upon the parties involved in the investigation, it may become necessary to
establish a protocol for the future examination of the evidence. This has been done in many
cases that we have become involved and it formalizes the actual process of the examination
and dissection of the evidence. This is important if in fact the evidence is going to be altered
form the condition that it was found at the time of the investigation. If in fact a product has
been identified that may be related to causation and/or any of the damages incurred as a
result of the fire, it is suggested that the legal representatives of your party consider the
notification of the company that manufactured the aforementioned product before any of the
evidence is significantly altered.

Ash & Debris Removal

Contact: Michelle Corson, Public Relations Officer, Kern County Public

Health Services Department (661) 304-7766
June 30, 2016
Bakersfield, CA - Kern County Public Health Services Department and
the State of California are offering a hazmat removal and debris cleanup
assistance program for all residences affected by the Erskine Fire. The
purpose of the program is to assist in getting affected properties clean
and safe and ready for rebuild. "We want residents to know that they
should not start any clean-up activities" said Matt Constantine, Director
of Kern County Public Health Services.
Debris and ash from residential fire may be hazardous. Ash and debris
from burned buildings and homes likely contains toxic substances due
to the presence of synthetic and hazardous materials. Many building
materials contain asbestos and older buildings often contain lead and
other heavy metals which are toxic. Exposure to hazardous substances
may lead to acute and chronic health effects, and may potentially cause
long-term public health and environmental impacts. Uncontrolled
hazardous materials and debris pose significant threats to public health
through inhalation of dust particles and contamination of drinking water
supplies. To ensure safety of workers, the public, and the environment,
certain protocols should be followed during a wildfire disaster when
removing structural ash and debris from a fire.
Should a property owner choose to participate in the County and State
debris removal program, the property with destroyed structure(s) from a
wildfire will be offered a clean-up and debris removal service conducted
by specialized work crews, contracted and managed by county and
state waste specialists. This program is being paid for with State of
California disaster assistance. Owners must sign up for this program by
completing a "Right-of-Entry" form to allow access to the property to
complete the removal work. http://kernpublichealth.com/ash-debrisremoval-program/
11-3.4 Structure Interior. On the initial assessment, investigators
should examine all rooms and areas of the structure. The investigator
should be observant of conditions of occupancy, including methods of
storage, nature of contents, and shape of living conditions. The type of
construction and surface covering should be noted. Moving from the
least burned to the most burned areas, indicators of smoke and heat
movement, areas of fire damage, and extent of damage in each area
severe, moderate, minor, or none should be noted. This damage

should be compared with the damage seen on the exterior. The

investigator should use this opportunity to assess the soundness of the
structure so that the safety of the structure can be determined. See
Chapter 10 for further information regarding safety.
The primary purpose of the preliminary interior assessment is to
identify the areas that require closer examination. Therefore, the
investigator should be observant for possible fire origins, fire patterns,
fuel loading, burning, and potential ignition sources.
During this assessment, the investigator should note any indication of
post-fire site alterations. Site alterations can include debris removal or
movement, content removal or movement, electrical service panel
alterations to facilitate temporary lighting, and gas meter removal.
Such alterations can greatly affect the investigators interpretation of
the physical evidence. If site alterations are indicated, the persons who
altered the site should be questioned as to the extent of their
alterations and the documentation they may have of the unaltered
site.
At the conclusion of the preliminary scene assessment, the Investigator
should have determined the safety of the fire scene, the probable
staffing and equipment requirements, and the areas around and in the
structure that will require a detailed inspection. The preliminary scene
assessment is an important aspect of the investigation. The
investigator should take as much time in this assessment as is needed
to make these determinations. Time spent in this endeavor will save
much time and effort in later steps of the investigation.