Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger on Thursday said the county’s Public Works Department has officially delivered the first batch of signed Right of Entry forms from wildfire survivors to the Army Corps of Engineers. The “milestone” enables debris removal efforts to begin, Barger said.

“This is a critical step forward in our mission to rebuild and restore Altadena,” Barger said. “The debris left in the fire’s wake is not just a visual reminder of the devastation — it poses real health and safety risks to our community. By clearing these sites, we are paving the way for families to rebuild and reclaim their homes.”

The entry is the second phases of debris removal from the Eaton fire. In the first phase, Environmental Protection Agency teams have been collecting hazard household materials from the rubble in both the Eaton and Palisades fire footprints. The Army Corps of Engineers will now begin debris removal operations.

“Our focus remains on accelerating this recovery process while prioritizing safety, efficiency, and transparency,” Barger said. “I want to thank every homeowner who has taken this step, as well as our partners at Los Angeles County Public Works, who are working around the clock on this and many other efforts related to the recovery process, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their tireless commitment to this effort. This is just the beginning — more work lies ahead, but today we move forward with determination and hope.”

According to Barger’s office, validation includes the careful review of submitted forms to verify property ownership, assuring the rights of residents are protected and guarding against potential fraud. Validated Right of Entry forms are transmitted electronically to the Army Corps of Engineers. If there are any issues with a submitted form, a county representative will contact the property owner to resolve them.

If the form is in order, the Army Corps of Engineers will notify the owner three to five days before debris removal is scheduled for that property.