Pasadena homeowners with red-tagged properties could expect federal help for debris cleanup after the Pasadena City Council unanimously opted into a fire debris removal and mitigation program during an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The program, designed to ease the financial burden for homeowners affected by recent wind-driven blazes across Los Angeles County, includes mandatory hazardous waste removal and optional debris cleanup. Both phases of the program aim to clear properties and prepare them for rebuilding.

“It’s the staff recommendation that we opt into this program,” Director of Planning & Community Development Jennifer Paige said during the meeting. “This results in essentially a no-cost program for those homeowners that choose to participate. They are covered by insurance for those that have it, and for those that don’t, they’re covered.”

The debris removal is divided into two phases.

Phase 1 involves the mandated removal of household hazardous waste. FEMA has delegated this work to EPA, state and county agencies, officials said. This phase is expected to take about 3 to 4 months to complete.

Phase 2, which is optional, includes debris removal. Homeowners who opt into this program will grant permission for inspections, abatement work, and removal of debris. The cleared properties will then be ready for rebuilding.

Homeowners also have the option to handle cleanup independently by hiring private contractors, provided they adhere to requirements set by state and federal agencies.

“If a property owner chooses to do this on their own, they can,” Paige said. “If they want to hire their own contractor and follow all the requirements that are being developed and will be made available to them, we will be participating in that piece of it and making sure that those property owners have the information that they need.”

This program offers significant cost benefits to homeowners, according to officials.

During the first 180 days of phase 2, FEMA will cover 100% of the costs.

After 180 days, FEMA’s coverage drops to 75%, with the state covering 25%, leaving around 6% to the city. For Pasadena, this would amount to approximately $10,000 per participating property, based on an average cleanup cost of $130,000 per site.

According to city officials, there are 142 red-tagged structures in Pasadena, most of which are in District 4, some are in District 1.

City leaders said that opting into the program now does not lock them into long-term participation.

“I think at this point, the option is to opt in so that we’re on the list,” Mayor Victor Gordo said.“And then I think we can reassess as things proceed and make a determination as to whether we want to remain in or go about it ourselves, or allow property owners to do it themselves, if it’s more efficient, safer and effective.”

The decision was made during an emergency meeting called with just an hour’s notice after the city was informed of the program by the county’s Office of Emergency Services late Tuesday night.

“And they then, at that call, made us aware that there is a program, a federal program related to fire debris removal and mitigation,” City Manager Miguel Márquez said. “And the urgency is, they said, we need to make a decision whether to opt in or not by early this afternoon. And for that reason, we’re holding this meeting.”