County: Butte, CA | Incident: Park Fire |

Resource Type: Debris Removal, Evacuation Information, Fallen Tree, Hazardous Waste Removal, and Preparedness Information

Butte County – Park Fire – Re-Entry, Property Clean Up and Rebuild Information

On September 11, Butte County announced that they have received approval for private property debris removal for the Park Fire. To see the press release, click here.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the Butte County Phase II Debris Removal Page. This page will be updated with information and guidance on how to participate in the state-led program.

Attempting to sort, clear, or disturb ash or debris may affect eligibility of receiving possible assistance, services, or funds.

Butte County – Park Fire Recovery Q&A Session

Wednesdays 4pm-6pm
Cohasset Community Association
11 Maple Creek Ranch Road, Cohasset

Providing a weekly Q&A session with Butte County staff to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts. First session starts Wednesday August 28th.

Butte County Park Fire Information Line

530-552-6264

Provides a prerecorded Park Fire information line.

As of September 5, the recording includes information on the following topics:

  • Phase I Hazardous Household Waste Removal
  • Property Tax Relief
  • Well Water Testing & Safety
  • Tree Removal

Butte County Park Fire Recovery FAQs

Provides answers to frequently asked questions related to Park Fire recovery: www.buttecounty.net/2044/Park-Fire-Recovery-FAQs

Re-Entry

View the Butte County Park Fire Health and Safety Precautions for Re-entry packet to see the County’s comprehensive repopulation and re-entry information. Below are some basic advisories, links, and guidance for public safety during re-entry to damaged properties and burned areas.

Butte County Re-Entry Advisory

Re-Entry Safety Note

Be aware of potential hazards such as hot spots, smoldering debris, and damaged structures. Use caution when entering your property. Check for structural damage before entering your home. Look for visible damage to the roof, foundation, and any support structures. Inspect your utilities. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the gas and contact the utility company immediately. Do not turn on the electricity until the electrical system has been inspected.

Health & Safety for Re-Entry – Butte County Packet

If you are returning home after an evacuation order or are visiting your property to collect belongings and mementos, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the information in this packet. It contains important details about the hazards of entering a fire-impacted area.

Building Inspectors continue to inspect structures that are in evacuation zones. Upon returning to your property, you may see one of two different placards posted by the Butte County Building Division. For more information, please refer to the Inspection Placards Flyer. If you believe your home or business has been damaged and has no placard posted, please contact the Building Division at 530-552-3700 or dsbuilding@buttecounty.net 

  • A Yellow Placard means the structure has been damaged and occupancy is restricted as long as you have water, electricity, and gas. Repairs require permits from the County. 
  • A Red Placard means “No Entry.” Structures are damaged and pose an imminent threat to life or safety. Do not enter these structures.

As the repopulation of impacted communities begins, please keep in mind the fire has affected animals in the area. In the unfortunate event that you need assistance disposing of deceased animal remains, please call the North Valley Animal Disaster Group hotline at 530.895.0000. Guidelines: Handling of Deceased Animals.

Hazardous Materials Paint Markings – Flyer

Anywhere you see brightly colored markings around your property, DO NOT GO NEAR THEM. They either represent a hazardous material, septic, or emergency protective measure placed by Cal OES to prevent run-off contamination. 

The list of colors being used by the Department of Toxic Substances Control is as follows:
White X mark: Empty HHW container or cylinder (these are left on the property and are disposed of in Phase II debris removal)
White MT mark: Fuel tank is empty, or contents were transferred, and the tank is left in place
Pink Paint: Suspect asbestos-containing material (ACM) that is left on site – to be tested in Phase II
Orange Paint: Septic systems location or damaged transformer
Red Paint: Lithium batteries or hazardous waste working to be addressed

The color being used by Cal OES:
Orange: Outline of where they will be placing emergency protective measures such as straw wattles, compost socks, and silt fences

Butte County Public Health

Video Providing Health and Safety Precautions for Re-Entry

 https://fb.watch/tPKMkyCWrs/

Before returning to homes and property after the devastating #ParkFire, please familiarize yourself with the information in this video about Health and Safety Precautions for Re-Entry. This video contains important details about the hazards of entering a fire-impacted area including:

  • Personal Protection
  • Debris and Hazardous Waste
  • Food Safety
  • Water Safety
  • And more!

California Department of Housing and Community Development

Mobile or Manufactured Home Damage Reporting and Permitting

If  your  mobile home  or  manufactured  home  was  destroyed  due  to  a  recent  California wildfire,  earthquake  or  storm  and  you  need  copies  of  your  title  and  registration  and/or salvage forms:
Call: 1-833-421-5990 (TDD: 1-800-735-2929)
Email: ContactRT@hcd.ca.gov (Please use Subject Line: Impacted by Natural Disaster)

If  your  mobile home  or  manufactured  home  was  damaged  due  to  a  recent California  wildfire,  earthquake  or  storm  and  you  need  to  obtain  permits  for  alterations/repairs:
Call: 1-800-952-8356, Option 2 (TDD: 1-800-735-2929)
Visit: www.hcd.ca.gov

Butte County Public Health – Post Fire Well Safety and Testing Guidelines

Provides information regarding private well water safety, and how to determine if it is safe to drink.

For more information, visit bit.ly/WellWaterSafety

For more information on well sampling and disinfection, visit bit.ly/3AEhOvK

AmeriGas Propane Safety Information

Provides general safety precautions for using propane, including what to do if you smell a gas leak, and how to use propane appliances safely. If you smell gas, call 800-805-0659 or 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.

For more information, visit bit.ly/AmeriGasPropaneSafety

Property Clean Up*

BUTTE COUNTY – Phase 1 Household Hazardous Waste Removal

Phase I Household Hazardous Waste Removal began on August 19th and is expected to continue for the next several weeks. DO NOT GO NEAR brightly colored markings around the property as they represent a hazardous material, septic, or emergency protective measure placed by Cal OES to prevent run-off contamination. The Department of Toxic Substances Control is leading Phase I, with assistance from Ancon Services. Cal OES and the Department of Water Resources will soon begin installing Emergency Protective Measures to protect against run-off contamination.

To view property status, visit https://bit.ly/4dSqKfa

To view Phase I Flyer with more information, visit https://bit.ly/3WQMSj2

Link to Press Release:  https://bit.ly/PressReleaseWasteRemoval

The County is not providing or recommending use of sand bags in the burn scar since CalOES is currently implementing Watershed Protection mission in the Park Fire burn areas. Please see the County’s Phase I Household Hazardous Waste Removal web page for more information about current watershed protection measures. 

Butte County Fire Safe Council

Offering the following programs for individuals affected by the Park Fire:

  • Resident’s Assistance (Defensible Space) Program: Assists with raking, cutting weeds and grass and removing dead limbs and trees within a 100 foot perimeter around the home. To qualify for this program, individuals must be age 60 or older, disabled or low income. For more information or to request services, call 530-877-0984.
  • Chipper Program: Assists with processing dead limbs from survived trees and chipping limbs, brush, etc. Residents must be able to collect and build piles they would like chipped. To apply for services, complete the Chipper Program Intake Form
  • Hazardous Tree Removal Program: Assists with removing dead trees or trees that are a fire hazard. For more information or to request services, call 530-877-0984.

Team Rubicon

Offering assistance to Park Fire survivors with cleaning debris, route clearance and tree removal on their affected properties.

Contact Northern Valley Catholic Social Services 530-345-1600 to request assistance from Team Rubicon. Once this has been arranged, Team Rubicon will reach out to individuals to schedule a time to meet with them to fill out a Right of Entry form.

Tree Removal

Butte County – Public Right-of-Way Tree Removal

Information from Butte County’s Park Fire Information Page: www.buttecounty.net/2026/Tree-Removal

Public Works issued an emergency contract to GreenTek to remove hazardous trees and vegetation along county roads impacted by the fire. Work began on Friday, August 2nd. This work is in coordination with other emergency responders in the area.

  • Tree and vegetation work on Cohasset Road is complete.
  • GreenTek has begun work on Vilas Road and Mud Creek Road. Anticipated completion is within the next week.
  • Wood chips are spread along exposed road banks, when possible, to provide some erosion control.
  • GreenTek has only removed hazardous trees within the County right-of-way. The Public Works survey division has marked the clearing limits for GreenTek based on our right-of-way.

Numerous other tree contractors working for various utility companies and foresters from CalFire are working in the area. These other entities are removing hazards to rebuild critical infrastructure or remove a public threat.

Please Note: Public Works does not remove trees from private properties.

PG&E Tree Removal & Tree Marking Symbol Key

As of August 21, PG&E and their subcontractors are marking and removing trees that threaten their infrastructure. They do not remove wood from private property. For questions regarding trees marked or cut by PG&E or one of their contractors, please call 1-800-PGE-5000.

PG&E’s Marking Symbols and Meanings (Markings are in green):

  •  F-1 – Imminent hazard. Remove immediately.
  •  F-2 – Has some time but will be removed.
  •  F-3 – Routine or Priority work caused by fire or new construction
  •  “X” – Remove tree
  •  “dot or circle” – trim only

Current PG&E’s Subcontractor’s:

  • Tree Work: Mountain F. Enterprise (Primary) and Tree Service Kings (Subsidiary)
  • Inspection Team: Coleman Utility Arboriculture
  • Support Staff: Orion Managed Services LLC

CalFire – Tree Removal

CalFire may cut down trees during fire suppression. Trees felled during response are not removed by CalFire. CalFire does not return after the response and fire suppression repair phase to remove trees during recovery. If you see a burning tree, call 911.

Butte County Fire Safe Council – Tree Removal 

 (530) 877-0984

As of August 21, the BCFSC has not removed any trees in the Park Fire burn scar. They are currently identifying and marking trees, within their scope, for removal. Allowable trees include those 100 feet from the road or within striking distance of a home. Once initial tree removal has taken place, they will conduct another assessment. Their goal is to assess what trees still need to be removed that fall under the FEMA scope of 500 feet and add trees and landowners to the HMGP project. This project is on hold until FEMA releases the funds per the direction of Congress. They are working to switch some existing grants to hazard tree removal. The plan is to do an emergency timber harvest with larger landowners and then focus on the small parcels with hazard trees threatening surviving homes or other higher-priority infrastructure.

Rebuild

Butte County Development Services – Rebuilding Guidance

If you’ve lost your home in a wildfire and have questions like the following:
• How do I get started? – Demo Permit, Removing Debris, Cleanup, etc.
• Is there an inspection for the Demolition Permit?
• Can I get power for my well? When?
• Can I rebuild in the same location?
• What will Permit fees be?
• I have questions about my well or septic system.
• How do I live on my property while rebuilding?
For further information, contact Butte County Development Services Building Division (530) 552-3699 or DSBuilding@buttecounty.net

Located at 7 County Center Drive, Oroville CA 95965
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8am-4pm
Wed 8am-3pm

Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractors State License Board

Provides a page where consumers can look up a contractor license or Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration to confirm a contractor is appropriately licensed before hiring. This search will also include complaint disclosure. To search a contractor, visit: Check A License – CSLB (ca.gov)

Before hiring a contractor or signing a contract, CSLB recommends you read the Hiring a Contractor page.

Eligibility: Open to anyone hiring a contractor.  All that is needed to lookup a contractor is their license number, which any licensed contractor can provide to their potential clients.

Please note: The database is unavailable Sundays at 8 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m. due to scheduled maintenance.

Trying to hire a licensed contractor and don’t know where to start? Click here to create a list of licensed contractors by City or ZIP code.

PG&E

Power Restoration

https://bit.ly/3SL9Eb0

For eligible customers impacted by a wildfire, PG&E will connect and disconnect temporary electric service at no cost until a permanent electric meter is installed. Temporary power can be used throughout the construction process until your building is ready for permanent power or for temporary uses like a recreational vehicle. Please work with your local jurisdiction on requirements for getting a temporary power permit.

Get started by following these two easy steps:
1. Apply online at https://yourprojects-pge.com/login or call 1-877-743-7782, Mon-Fri, 7am – 6pm. You will be assigned a dedicated PG&E Service Planning Representative (SPR) to manage your request. Please indicate on your application which wildfire your request is related to.
2. Contact your SPR for all restoration questions and concerns, or email us at rebuild@pge.com

Once your building project is complete, remember to apply for permanent power. PG&E cannot restore permanent gas or electric services to damaged structures until they have been repaired or rebuilt, and the county or city building inspector or representative has approved PG&E to reestablish service. Please note: Poles/electric panels along with fees payable to the city, town or county are the responsibility of the customer

Butte County Tax Assessors Office

Property Reassessment After a Disaster

Offering property assessment after the Park Fire. Disaster affected property owners can apply to have their property reassessed after a disaster to reduce or defer their property taxes with no penalties or interest.

Main Office – 25 County Center Drive, Suite 100, Oroville, CA, 95965
530-552-3800
Mon-Fri 9am-3pm

Branch Office – 196 Memorial Way, Chico, CA, 95926
530-552-3800
By Appointment Only

To request this service, fill out a form over the phone or online at https://www.buttecounty.net/230/Property-Damage-Calamity 

California Native Plant Society

Fire Recovery Guide

Provides a comprehensive Fire Recovery Guide detailing how to best reestablish native plants within the burn scar in order to support California habitats and ecosystems while making properties more resilient to fire and future events.