Boulder County is asking for financial support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid communities impacted by the Marshall Fire with debris removal.
On Monday, the county submitted a Private Property Debris Removal request to FEMA asking the agency to provide funding to assist Louisville, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County with safely removing and properly disposing of debris and ash resulting from high winds and the Marshall Fire.
The request will be formally reviewed by FEMA, which could take four weeks to complete, according to a news release from Boulder County.
The request asked for the inclusion of the following types of debris: destroyed structures; downed and damaged trees and other vegetation; contaminated soil, which will include sampling and testing work; burned vehicles and debris that may impede effective cleanup of individual properties; structures with more than one standing wall; and foundations, which could include retaining walls.
While FEMA completes its review, Boulder County, Louisville and Superior will work collaboratively and follow FEMA guidelines to retain contractors to prepare for the PPDR work. The deadline for qualified contractors to submit requests for proposals was Tuesday. The proposals are currently being reviewed.
In addition to the RFP process, the county and its partners are currently developing a prioritization plan for the scope of work, which includes determining and monitoring soil and air testing procedures, finalizing operational plans and other details for quick action when all plans are in place, the release said.
FEMA’s approval of the county’s PPDR request is a vital step to ensure funding is available to begin the next phase of debris removal work and will help determine how the county and its partners will move forward, the release said.
Boulder County already has completed multiple phases of the debris removal effort, including collection of spoiled foods and removal of burned vehicles from the right of way. Curbside collection of wind- and smoke-damaged items from homes that were not destroyed is currently ongoing and is expected take about two weeks to complete, the release said.
Questions about the PPDR request can be directed to Boulder County. More information about the debris removal program is available at BoCo.org/Marshall-Fire-Cleanup.
