Girdwood resident comments on Eaton Fire response

FOLLOW UP COMMENTARY PROVIDES HIS OPINION

By John Gallup

Girdwood Resident

The childhood home of John Gallup that was incinerated from the wildfire that recently occurred as part of the Eaton Fire. (Photo courtesy of John Gallup)

As of the week ending Feb. 14, some amazing progress has been made on the long process of rebuilding Altadena, Calif.

Through cooperation of FEMA, State of California, Los Angeles County, and the Army Corps of engineers, Phase 1, the removal and sorting of hazardous waste is almost complete, and Phase 2, the removal of debris has begun, at no cost to homeowners!

This is on a first apply first served basis, so it will be slow at first, but as it scales up it will involve 1500 trucks. This is huge, remember the fire itself was only 6 weeks ago.

Property owners can opt out and do their own removal if the want, but few have so far.

Also, if a property owner wants to rebuild the exact same house they had, only with non-flammable exteriors, they can get a building permit based on their original plans, short cutting a long and expensive process.

The only downside is that the already overcrowded 210 freeway will have to carry all those debris loads to their final resting place in Duarte, a few miles to the east.

This is what can happen when government at all levels puts politics aside and gets to work.