State, county officials meet with frustrated residents about Borel Fire debris cleanup
David and Linda Baskin lost everything in the Borel Fire. They were evacuated in late July, shortly after the fire started. The flames destroyed their home and displaced them from the Havilah area.
They're now living in an RV in a trailer park in Tehachapi, where Linda's daughter lives. They're not sure if they'll ever be able to go back.
"I actually had to go in debt," David Baskin said. "I had my house paid for. The property was paid for, and I've actually had to go in debt now to get an RV on it, and that's all I can afford to buy. I can't afford $300,000 for a new home."
On Thursday, the Baskins and about 50 other residents were packed into a room at the Lake Isabella Senior Center to hear a presentation from state and local officials about recovery efforts in the wake of the fire that burned nearly 60,000 acres and decimated the town of Havilah.
The California Office of Emergency Services, or CalOES, notified area residents last week that Phase 2 of the state's debris removal program had been approved. A community meeting was convened Thursday to answer residents' questions and provide assistance for signing up for the program.
Phase 2 removes debris left over from structures, vehicles and hazardous trees. It even takes away several inches of contaminated topsoil from properties.
In order to be eligible for the program, residents have to sign up and authorize right-of-entry forms allowing crews contracted by the state to enter properties and remove hazardous debris.
Residents asked several questions about insurance, timing of the cleanup and what would be done to address risks of landslides and flooding in the coming rainy season.
Officials from CalFire's Watershed Emergency Response Team said the Havilah area, particularly along Caliente Bodfish Road, was at risk from landslides, debris flows and flooding from the kind of rainstorms that typically occur at least once a year, if not more often.
Crews from the California Conservation Corps will be in the area next week to install features for protecting watersheds from debris flows or landslides. Debris clearance won't start for several more weeks, officials said.
"They'll go with mitigation measures, straw walls, compost socks — things like that — to alleviate or mitigate saturation into the water," said Baylor Cartica, emergency services coordinator with CalOES.
County officials asked residents to turn in their right-of-entry forms by Oct. 4, allowing the state to move ahead with the cleanup.
"The sooner we can get the majority of (right-of-entry forms), the sooner the state can start working on debris removal," said Director Brynn Carrigan of Kern County Public Health.
Frustration from residents was at times palpable during the meeting as residents asked about what would and wouldn't be covered by the program.
"I don't feel like I learned a whole lot," said Hayward Mendenhall, whose property with four historic cabins was completely destroyed.
"We don't know what our plans are," Mendenhall said.
David Baskin said he had been waiting for more information about Phase 2. He found out about the meeting at the last minute.
"The meeting, I think, is helpful, but I think more people probably would have been here if this had been a little bit more ... advertised about what was going to happen," he said.
Linda Baskin said much of the information presented Thursday was confusing.
"A lot of people are confused because a lot of your stuff didn't get out to we the people in our hometown," she said. "We needed something and we got nothing."
People can opt out of the cleanup program, but toxic materials will still need to be removed in order for future building permits to be issued. Residents can also request that certain items, such as destroyed vehicles, remain on the property, but CalOES will decide on a case-by-case basis.
Attendees were provided with a checklist of items needed to complete right-of-entry forms, though several residents noted that materials requested by the county — identification cards, insurance information, vehicle identification numbers — were destroyed in the fire.
Officials said they would work with residents to ensure they're able to gain access to the program.
"You will all be in communication with our teams before the debris removal actually starts," Cartica said. "We will call you every step of the way. We will call you when we are about to start the removal within 48 hours or so. If we need more lead time, please report to me directly."
