MALIBU—The city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page a reminder to residents that if their property was impacted by the Palisades Fire and they opted out of the government sponsored fire debris removal program, they are required to complete private debris removal by Monday, June 30. There are only 14 days left to finish removing all fire-related debris.
The Franklin Fire debris removal process is separate from the Palisades Fire debris removal process.
Ash, debris and fire damage on homes that have been destroyed may contain hazardous materials that can threaten public health. The LA County Health Office issued a Local Health Emergency Order, prohibiting the cleanup or removal of fire debris until a hazardous materials inspection is completed by an approved government agency.
Malibu prohibits the delivery of debris bins in the affected areas without the approval from the city, removal of smoke-damaged personal items, and removal of vegetative landscape debris from the fire. Debris containing asbestos is hazardous to public health and should only be removed by qualified professionals.
Debris removal is a two-phase process:
Phase 1: Household Hazardous Waste Removal
On February 26, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed the Phase 1 removal and disposal of household hazardous materials from properties in Malibu impacted by the fires. More than 1,700 staff cleared hazardous materials from properties in Palisades and Eaton fire footprints, including over 1,000 lithium-ion batteries, asbestos, household and automotive batteries, compressed gas cylinders, household chemicals, electronics, fuels and oils, and medical waste.
Some properties were deferred during Phase 1 due to unsafe conditions. These will be addressed in Phase 2 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Property owners with deferred parcels must still submit Right of Entry (ROE) forms to allow cleanup to proceed.
The community may see continued activity at Topanga State Beach and Will Rogers State Beach Phase 1 Transfer Sites, as EPA is processing lithium-ion batteries collected during Phase 2 Debris Removal. EPA will conduct post-operations soil sampling at each staging area to ensure that there was no impact.
For more details visit the EPA’s 2025 Southern California Wildfire Response website. For questions, Call the EPA Hotline at 1-833-798-7372 or email EPALAWildfiresInfo@epa.gov.
To view FAQs related to Phase 1, visit LA County’s website.
Phase 2: Fire Debris Removal
Owners of destroyed structures had the opportunity to participate in a government-sponsored program to have their properties cleared of fire debris by the Army Corps of Engineers. Property owners had to opt-in by April 15, 2025. Those who elected to opt-out of the government-sponsored program will be required to obtain County approval before removing any fire debris.
Contact the Army Corps of Engineers Hotline at (213) 308-8305 with any questions or their interactive map.
Deadlines for opt-out and nonrespondent properties:
Sunday, June 1 – Property owners who either opted out or failed to submit a Right of Entry form must obtain a Fire Debris Removal permit and hire a licensed contractor
Monday, June 30 – All fire debris for opt-out properties must be removed
[Update as of June 1, 2025]: There are approximately seven property owners who have been non-responsive regarding fire debris removal. In addition, approximately seven property owners who previously opted out of the government-sponsored debris removal program have not yet submitted the required permit applications for private cleanup. Property owners must follow procedures set by EPIC-LA.
Of the 14 properties referenced above, approximately 10 are located on beachfront lots.
The city of Malibu has been proactively contacting these property owners to provide notice of the cleanup requirements and upcoming deadlines. If debris removal is not fully completed by June 30, 2025, the city will evaluate available options, including potential enforcement actions or court proceedings. Malibu’s primary goal is for all property owners to complete debris removal voluntarily and in compliance with the deadline.
While some properties remain uncleared, the city recognizes and appreciates the significant progress already made. Approximately 420 properties have successfully completed debris removal or are actively in the process—demonstrating strong community commitment to recovery and resilience.
To learn more & explore options visit: www.maliburebuilds.org/debris-removal.
By Danny Jones