2020 California Wildfire Debris and Hazardous Tree Removal

In 2020, Forgen and DRC partnered as Forgen DRC JV to respond to a request for bids (IFB) released by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). The request was for debris and hazard tree removal services following wildfire damage across California. CalRecycle divided the cleanup efforts into four contracts, each covering a different geographic area within the state.

Forgen DRC JV was awarded the cleanup contract for the Southern Branch. This area included Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, and Tulare Counties, with Mono County later added by contract amendment. The contract was awarded and the cleanup efforts were executed quickly to support economic recovery and the well-being of residents in the affected areas. Forgen DRC JV was required to start debris and hazard tree removal services within 48 hours of receiving the Notice to Proceed (NTP).

To complete work in all five (5) counties at the same time, Forgen DRC JV developed an organization structure and management team which allowed us to rapidly deploy oversight and resources while reporting back to our Program Manager who oversaw all cleanup efforts and could adjust resources based on county cleanup needs. With Forgen DRC JV’s access to numerous craft labor crews which hold current 40-hour HAZWOPER certifications and a strong commitment to implementing the procedures and practices that create an Incident and Injury Free (IIF) workplace, we were able to quickly assemble a project team as part of emergency response efforts. Debris cleanup efforts began November 30, 2020, and were completed by November 15, 2021. By leveraging our extensive experience in debris removal/cleanup throughout the US, with a local presence in California, Forgen DRC JV was uniquely prepared to deal with the challenges of managing the project through the winter months and in remote and mountainous terrain, where many of the cleanup areas were located. Since work was completed through winter and into the summer of 2021, crews had to meet the challenges of working through rain, snow, high winds, and high heat conditions. 

As part of our emergency response fire cleanup, Forgen DRC JV, under the direction of the CalRecycle Incident Management Team, worked closely with individual property owners and the surrounding communities to perform the necessary residential lot cleanup. During debris removal efforts over 20 debris removal crews were dispatched, with separate asbestos site abatement crews and chimney removal crews, which consisted of specialty trained OSHA 40-HR HAZWOPER employees working in Level C PPE. Debris removal included segregation, transportation and removal of burn ash, recyclable metals, concrete, and overexcavated soil from burned building areas.  Following the initial cleanup efforts, Forgen DRC JV coordinated with CalRecycle and the Consultant to ensure that all impacted soil materials were removed from each lot. Soil samples were taken by the Consultant and tested to ensure all impacted material and debris had been removed from the sites or if additional soil removal was required. The scope of work also included providing dust control, installation of erosion control, and air monitoring and health and safety oversight for crews. 

As part of the hazard tree removal program, over 10 tree removal and hauling crews were deployed to mitigate hazards on public infrastructure on public properties, public rights-of-way, and other areas that posed a hazard to the public. Forgen DRC JV hazard tree removal crews began cleanup efforts working alongside debris removal crews to provide hazard mitigate to tree posing a threat to debris crews on each property. Tree crew then worked to remove and mitigated both danger and hazard trees identified by the Consultant and Registered Professional Forester. Trees were felled and processed in accordance with Forest Practice Rules and Requirements and either chipped on-site or off-hauled to a designated end use facility with beneficial reuse where possible.

Forgen DRC JV removed and mitigated over 11,500 fire damaged hazard and danger trees. We completed cleanup of over 600 residential properties which were returned to the counties and homeowners. Of the 600+ residential properties completed, our team has removed and disposed of over 38,000 tons of burned debris and ash, recycled over 32,000 tons of concrete, recycled over 4,400 tons of metals, and removed and disposed of over 16,000 tons of potentially impacted soil. .