Valley Springs, CA – Gann Fire recovery efforts ramp up next week, with local and state officials working in the burn area.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) on Thursday (8/27) met with representatives of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Calaveras Sheriff’s OES officials reported that following the meeting, agency personnel assessed the blaze’s burn area, resulting in the development of a Phase I plan for home hazardous waste collection.
Starting on Tuesday (9/1), representatives from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Calaveras County Environmental Health, and the Calaveras County Sheriff’s OES teams will be in the burn area to collect household hazardous waste and bulk asbestos from damaged properties.
OES provided this list of accepted waste:
- Paints
- Solvents
- Aerosols
- Pesticides
- Pool chemicals
- Household or automotive batteries
- Compressed gas cylinders
- Propane tanks
- Electronic waste
- Asbestos siding
- Pipe insulation
- Old chimney flues
- Lead-based paint debris
“The collected hazardous waste will be properly transported and disposed of at no cost to the homeowners,” noted Calaveras Sheriff’s OES officials, adding, “Homeowners of damaged properties are encouraged, though not required, to participate in this no-cost program.”
Additionally, on Sunday, August 30th, members of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Watershed Mitigation, Coordination, and Outreach Unit will be in the Gann Fire burn area to identify watershed concerns.
“This visit will allow the team to collect the data needed to determine what materials will be needed for watershed protection. Watershed protection measures will begin once the hazardous materials cleanup reaches partial completion,” stated Calaveras Sheriff’s OES officials.
Direct questions and concerns to CCOES@calaverascounty.gov or by telephone at (209) 754-2890. Calaveras Sheriff’s OES officials noted that OES is receiving a high volume of calls, and the team will return calls and messages as soon as possible.
The blaze ignited on Monday, August 3, near Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road, resulting in one fatality. The fire reached 10,339 acres, with 48 structures destroyed and three more damaged.
