California's state-led wildfire debris removal program clears ash, char, and standard building foundations from a burned lot at no direct cost, but it does not remove septic tanks, wells, fences, pools, or driveway and patio concrete the fire didn't damage. If your rebuild plan touches any of those, you're hiring a private contractor once the state crews move on, permits and all.
That gap catches a lot of Tehama, Butte, and Shasta County property owners by surprise. The Camp Fire, Carr Fire, and Dixie Fire all left behind lots where the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program did the heavy lifting on ash and burned structures, then handed the rest back to the owner. Walberg, Inc. has worked that handoff on all three fires, and the same gaps show up almost every time.
What the state program actually clears off a burned lot
Once you sign the Right of Entry form with your county, state-contracted crews remove fire ash, charred debris, and hazardous household waste from the property. They also demolish and haul away standard concrete foundations and slabs, because the heat from a structure fire is assumed to have compromised the concrete even when it looks intact. If you want to keep an existing foundation for the rebuild, you have to apply for an exception before the crews get there, which usually means a core sample strength test and a letter from a licensed engineer.
None of this costs the property owner directly. If you had insurance that covered debris removal, though, the county collects those proceeds to help fund the program, so it's worth checking your policy before you sign the paperwork.
What's left standing after the crews finish
The short list: septic tanks and wells, fences, swimming pools, and any concrete the fire didn't actually damage, like a driveway, patio, or walkway. Vegetative debris that isn't tied to the fire stays too. Commercial properties are mostly excluded from the base program and get reviewed case by case.
| Item | Covered by the state program | Who clears it |
|---|---|---|
| Ash, char, and fire debris | Yes | State-contracted crews |
| Standard foundations and slabs | Yes, removed by default | State crews, unless you apply to keep it |
| Septic tanks and wells | No | Private contractor, permitted abandonment |
| Driveways, patios, and walkways not fire-damaged | No | Private contractor |
| Fences and swimming pools | No | Private contractor |
| Outbuildings that didn't burn | No | Private contractor |
| Contaminated soil past the program's removal depth | Sometimes needs follow-up testing | Private contractor with soil testing |
Septic tanks and wells: pump it, abandon it, permit it
State crews will fence off a septic tank for safety and only pump it if it's an immediate hazard to the cleanup crew. Actually closing it out is on you. Most Northern California counties require an over-the-counter abandonment permit before you touch it: the tank gets pumped, the bottom broken so it can't hold water, and the void filled with approved material, usually slurry, dirt, or clean gravel. In Butte County, for example, a tank sitting within five feet of a building footing has to be filled with two-sack slurry rather than plain dirt, because loose fill that close to a foundation can settle and crack the slab above it later.
We'd rather see a rancher off Corning Road or a rebuild lot in Paradise get the septic system abandonment inspected and signed off before framing starts, not after. A failed inspection at that stage means tearing back into a compacted pad. You can request a free estimate for septic work once you know the tank needs to come out.
Concrete, fences, and pools the state won't touch
A driveway that survived the fire is, technically, good news, but it's also concrete the state program has no reason to remove. If your new house pad or garage footprint doesn't line up with the old driveway, that slab has to come out before grading starts. Same story with pool shells and perimeter fencing: they're often structurally sound, which is exactly why they're excluded, and exactly why they sit there for months until someone hires a demolition contractor to break them out and haul them off.
Getting the site ready to actually rebuild
Once the septic tank is abandoned, the leftover concrete is gone, and any contaminated soil has been tested and cleared, the lot still isn't rebuild-ready. It needs to be graded to plan, compacted to spec for a new house pad, and tied back into sewer, water, and electrical service. Skipping any one of those steps is how a framing crew ends up waiting two extra weeks on a slab that has to be re-poured.
Should you opt out of the state program instead?
You can opt out of the Consolidated Debris Removal Program and hire a private contractor to handle everything, including the parts the state would have covered for free. Some owners do this to move faster or to save a foundation without going through the state's exception process. It rarely pencils out financially unless you have significant insurance proceeds earmarked for debris removal, because you're now paying for hazardous material handling and disposal that the state program covers at no direct cost. For most Northern California property owners, the better move is to let the state crews clear the structure and foundation, then bring in a private contractor for everything on the exclusion list.
Common Questions
Does the state debris removal program remove my septic tank?
No. Septic tanks and wells are excluded from the standard program. Crews will fence off a tank for safety and pump it only if it poses an immediate hazard, but the tank itself stays until a private contractor pumps it, breaks the bottom, and fills it under a county abandonment permit.
How long do I have to hire a private contractor after the state crews finish?
There's no fixed statewide deadline, but most counties expect septic abandonment and remaining concrete removal to happen before they'll issue a rebuild or grading permit. Waiting too long into the wet season can also delay grading work, since compacting a pad on saturated ground doesn't hold up.
Do I need a permit to abandon a septic tank in Tehama, Butte, or Shasta County?
Yes. Each county's Environmental Health department requires an abandonment permit before a tank can be pumped and filled, and most process it over the counter rather than through a lengthy review. Requirements on fill material and distance from footings vary slightly by county, so it's worth confirming with your local Environmental Health office before work starts.
Can I keep my old foundation instead of having it removed?
Sometimes. You have to apply for an exception before the state crews reach your property, and it usually requires a core sample compressive strength test plus a certification letter from a licensed architect or engineer confirming the slab is still sound. Without that approval, the state crews remove the foundation by default.
What happens if I skip the state program and hire a contractor directly?
You take on the cost and permitting that the state program would have otherwise covered, including hazardous material handling. It can make sense if you're trying to control the timeline closely, but for most property owners the state program is the cheaper path for the structure and foundation, with a private contractor picking up the septic, concrete, and site prep work afterward.
Bottom line
The state program does the expensive part for free: ash, char, and the foundation. Everything else on a burned lot, the septic tank, the driveway that didn't burn, the pool shell, and the actual site prep for a new house pad, is on the property owner to arrange. Walberg, Inc. has handled that second phase across the Camp Fire, Carr Fire, and Dixie Fire footprints, from septic abandonment to grading a pad ready for framing. If you're past the state cleanup and need the rest of the lot cleared for a rebuild, request a free estimate and we'll walk the property with you.