California Develops Gold Safety Standard For Safely Removing Wildfire Debris

American Public Works Association APWA REPORTER by Michael Crawford, CEO, Sukut Construction, Inc.

Disaster cleanup is a growth industry in the United States, and the numbers tell the story:

In the past 25 years, the federal government has declared almost 1,000 national disasters, half of them natural occurrences such as wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes,according to research by ScienceDaily.com.

The cost of U.S. disasters spiraled to an average of $1 billion a week during the last decade of the 20th century according to a National Science Foundation-funded analysis. Since then, the price for repair and reconstruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina alone is projected to surpass the $100 billion mark.

The frequency, destructive capability and cost of natural disasters in the U.S. and worldwide have accelerated over the past 50 years, with forecasts for a continued upward trend due to increases in population and the movement of more people into naturally hazard-prone areas.

For the construction industry, these disasters represent an opportunity for our industry to take a leadership role in creating new ways for communities to respond more effectively to these crises. To that end, I will share with you, Sukut Construction, Inc.'s experience with a new model now known as the Angora Protocol for a public-private response to community disasters that is being tested in the State of California in the aftermath of recent devastating wildfires and is proving to be both socially and fiscally responsible. This new model has become the gold standard for debris removal and is a win-win for our communities and our industry.

To set the stage, think back to natural disasters you've experienced closer to your own home or followed closely in the news. Typically, public agencies and private property owners have-at best-taken steps to try to "weather the storm." For example, in California, the public is encouraged to create defensible space and choose fire-resistant landscapes, for protection from wildfires, and to keep a three-day supply of food and water on hand for potential earthquakes.

Yet, once a disaster does occur, leaving in its wake mountains of unstable rubble and toxic waste, the after-plan has consisted of one basic assumption: that individual property owners will clean up their own sites, eventually, in what invariably becomes " a piecemeal and haphazard manner, done with little oversight, and vulnerable to fraud by unlicensed contractors. That plan or shall we say, non-plan-has proved untimely and environmentally damaging, and is generally deemed unsatisfactory by the community at large.

The new and improved model for disaster response and recovery was developed by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) in response to the 2007 Angora wildfires that raged through Lake Tahoe. Once the 3,000-acre wind-driven fire was extinguished, attention turned immediately to the potential collateral damage to Lake Tahoe from the burned structural debris and toxics releasing into the watershed. With more than 250 homes destroyed and many other structures damaged, the Angora fire had a devastating impact on the local community. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger quickly stepped in with executive order 5-09-07. It states that state and local officials should work together to develop and implement a comprehensive structural debris removal plan as a single organized project. The intent was to avert an environmental disaster in the Tahoe Basin that could have escalated into an economic depression for the communities, resorts and tourism centers around the lake.

The Angora fire cleanup team removed 255 structures in 39 days and clocked 28,000 labor hours without one accident. The Angora team prevented potentially toxic ash and debris from damaging Lake Tahoe, a national treasure.

Angora project engineers for the California Integrated Waste Management Board were truly amazed at how strong the American spirit was during the disaster and how the Angora team not only met an impossible deadline, but surpassed it by one week.

The new model for wildfire cleanup raises the bar for disaster mitigation. It coordinates the cleanup of an entire disaster area under one responsible contractor to create efficiencies in  time and equipment and to ensure an environmentally sound outcome. This coordinated approach produces a superior outcome for several reasons:

• A rapidly-deployed response is coordinated by a single governmental agency.
• The public is assured that recyclables and hazardous materials are separated, remaining ash and debris are properly land-filled, and there are no hidden waste streams.
• Cleanup crews are protected through proper HAZMAT training, safety equipment and health monitoring.
• The community is protected from potentially toxic dust and eyesore of illegal dumping. .
• The environment is protected from pollution caused by the improper handling and disposal of toxic waste. .
• Insurance companies can reach settlements faster with one-stop-shop cleanup.

Following this success, the new model was appropriated recently in Southern California in the aftermath of Santa Ana wind-driven fires that burned a half million acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in October and November 2OO7. The Angora Protocol is again being implemented by the County of San Bernardino, which lost 517 homes. It entails the demolition and removal of private homes and property, and the sorting and proper disposal of toxic and recyclable waste.

As citizens of a wildfire-prone state, we recognize that wildfire debris exacts an insidious tax on our entire community. An average home that burns produces 290 tons of rubble, with the tonnage multiplying many times for modern Mc-Mansions. Some of the residue, particularly from melted appliances and cars, is potentially polluting. Other communities face similar challenges as a result of their region's natural and man-made disasters including devastation from tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and even terrorist attacks.

The damage must be contained if we are to continue to enjoy the high-quality way of life that brought us to Southern California and others to the plains states, the bayou country and every other part of our rich and varied American terrain.

Our ongoing challenge of responding to disasters in a manner that enhances quality of life can be met by our industry's responsible contractors working with federal, state and local agencies utilizing the highest professional standards.

While we may never know when disaster is going to strike, we are now prepared to strike back when it does.

Under Michael Crawford's leadership, Sukut Construction, Inc. "Contractor of the Year" and "Best Place to Work."

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