Fire Recovery

Post Fire Clean-up Process for Private Residences

The information contained on this page relates to the destruction of homes and/or accessory structures from a fire event, and the procedures for clean up following the event.

The handouts provide details on property site re-entry, debris clean up and temporary occupancy of trailer coaches while recovering from a disaster.

For more information on disaster recovery, please call (707) 234 6303, or visit the County's Prevention, Recovery, Resilience and Mitigation page.

Step One: Asbestos Notification

Submit an Asbestos Notification Form for Demolition and Renovation to Mendocino County Air Quality Management District (MCAQMD)

MCAQMD, in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 61 subpart M, requires anyone conducting a demolition or renovation project to thoroughly inspect the affected facility for the presence of asbestos.

Single family residential dwellings of less than five units are exempt from fees, but MCAQMD still requires consultation for all burned structures.

How to Contact MCAQMD

Mendocino County Air Quality Management District
306 E Gobbi St
Ukiah CA 95482
Phone: (707) 463 4354
mcaqmd@mendocinocounty.gov

Step Two: Grading Notification

Submit a Grading Notification to Mendocino County Air Quality Management District

MCAQMD requires notification for the removal of large volumes of ash to limit and control potential dust generated during removal.

Download the Grading Notification Form.

Step Three: Demolition/Remodel Permit

Obtain a Permit from Mendocino County Planning and Building Services

Once notification has been given to MCAQMD, Mendocino County Planning and Building Services can issue a Demolition or a Remodel Permit. A Demolition Permit is required if the structure was a complete loss. If the structure incurred partial damage only, a Remodel Permit is required.

The Permit application is the same form as a Building Permit application:

  • Fill out a Building Permit application(PDF, 203KB) (open in Adobe Acrobat for fillable fields), located under the Building Applications and Handouts section of this website.
  • Provide one copy of the Plot Plan (the entire parcel, everything on it, location of structure to be demolished, distance to property lines, etc.). See Plot Plan Requirements(PDF, 166KB), also under Building Applications and Handouts.

Note: The County only allows the property owner (on the deed) or a California State Licensed contractor to obtain a permit. If another party would like to obtain a permit on the property owner's behalf, they must provide a signed Agent/Applicant Authorization Form(PDF, 59KB).

Step Four: Testing Ash

Have the Ash Tested for Hazardous Waste Classification

This test is to determine which solid waste facilities are permitted to receive the ash once removed from the property. The ash is sampled and analyzed for hazardous properties to determine the waste classification.

The three tests that must be performed on the ash are:

  • CAM 17 Heavy Metals (EPA 200.7, EPA 6010B, EPA 6010C) (sampled by homeowner or consultant)
  • pH test for corrosivity (sampled by homeowner or consultant)
  • Asbestos test for friability (sampled by a Certified Asbestos Consultant)

Laboratories in Mendocino County

Alpha Analytical Laboratories
208 Mason Street
Ukiah CA 95482
(707) 468-0401

List of Certified Asbestos Consultants & Technicians

Contact Your Waste Hauler

Contact your waste hauler to request a bin or large dumpster and forward them your sampling results. They will use the results to identify special handling requirements and final waste destination locations.

C & S Waste Solutions
3515 Taylor Drive
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 234-6400

If choosing to self-haul, contact the transfer station or final destination landfill to determine the requirements for acceptance. Plan to forward your testing results to the transfer station or landfill to ensure the facility will accept the ash and to avoid being turned away at the gate.

Please Note: Ash may not be self-hauled to a transfer station or landfill without prior approval from the facility.

Step Five: Complete Clean-up

Complete Cleanup of the Structure

Clean up of the material may be performed by the property owner or licensed contractor with any of the following licenses:

If the ash has tested positive for asbestos, the contractor must have the following licenses:

Step Six: Final Inspection

Receive Final Inspection and Signed off Permit

Call Planning and Building Services with the permit number that was issued to demolish the structure and schedule a final inspection from a Mendocino County Building Inspector. If all the conditions of the permit have been met, the Inspector will sign off the permit and mark it as "Final."

Handouts, Information and Guidance

Updated November 2020

Redwood Complex Fire Information

The Redwood Complex Fire burned 36,523 acres in Redwood Valley and Potter Valley in 2017.

Oak Fire and August Complex Fire Information

Hopkins Fire Information

The Hopkins Fire burned 257 acres in the Calpella area in 2021

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