Clean Up

On private property, crews will remove dead or dying trees if they pose a threat to the safety of the cleanup crew or public right-of-way. The next step will be the removal of ash and structural debris, including concrete and other household and construction materials, from private homes and businesses. A list of what is included in the cleanup is available.

Hazard tree removal along roadways has begun. The initial focus is on logs and debris remaining from fire response work. Crews will then move on to the private property.

Step 2 of the cleanup includes homes, mobile home parks, second homes, businesses, and other structures. Once work is completed, property owners will receive a notice that the property is ready for rebuilding.

Property owners in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion are eligible to participate in the cleanup. For most, the cleanup will be at no cost. The work paves the way for rebuilding efforts, and community recovery and helps revitalize Oregon's economy.

Home and business owners must sign a Right of Entry Form with their county to allow cleanup crews onto their property. Visit Wildfire.oregon.gov or call 503-934-1700 to submit your form and for more information. Even those who did not join in Step 1 of the cleanup, which focused on hazardous household waste, may still opt into the program.

Oregon's 2020 Labor Day Fire

Oregon's 2020 Labor Day fires constitute the largest and most expensive disaster in our state's history, burning over 1 million acres and destroying over 5,000 structures.

Initial estimates put the debris cleanup from the September 2020 Oregon wildfires at over $600 million, including $326 million for ash and debris removal and $295 million to remove hazardous trees.


  • September 24, 2021: Work on the final 13 properties - and any new additions following the September 15 deadline - started last week and will be completed in the coming weeks. Any remaining hazard trees in the fire area are on these pending home sites awaiting removal and this is scheduled to be completed in the coming month. Learn more about the September 24, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • September 3, 2021: As cleanup nears completion statewide, the Debris Management Task Force has designated September 15, 2021, as the final deadline for opting into the state-led cleanup for properties damaged in the 2020 wildfires. Enrollments will not be accepted past this date. Read more about when Oregon Announces September 15 Enrollment Deadline for the 2020 Wildfire Cleanup.
  • July  9, 2021: ODOT - Debris Management Task Force Update - Echo Mountain Fire Area - Lincoln County, Lincoln City area, Highway 18 and adjacent area Debris removal 86% complete; hazard tree removal 61% complete (remainder of trees are primarily on property sites participating in the state program). Learn more about the July 9, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • June 18, 2021: ODOT - Debris Management Task Force Update - Echo Mountain Fire Area - With just a handful of home sites left to clear, work is nearly complete while a few areas await household hazardous waste and hazard tree removal. After 20 new properties opted into the state cleanup program, work in the fire area is expected to be complete in the coming weeks. Learn more about the June 18, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • May 21, 2021: New video from ODOT's Debris Management Task Force... By size alone, the 2,500-acre Echo Mountain Complex Fire was tiny compared to the massive Labor Day wildfires that burned in the Cascades and southern Oregon, but its localized impact on the small coastal town of Otis was just as devastating. Read more about Echo Mountain: A Community Recovering.
  • May 14, 2021: With just 16 home sites left to clear, work is nearly complete. Pending final soil samples, it is anticipated cleanup work in the Echo Mountain Fire area will wrap up by the end of the month. Work at the Salmon River Mobile Village is complete awaiting final soil testing results. Learn more about May 7, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • April 14, 2021: Senator Wyden - Virtual Lincoln County Community Meeting regarding Debris Removal - Details. Access the form to RSVP for Senator Wyden's Virtual Community meeting.
  • April 1, 2021: Right of Entry - No longer being accepted.
  • March 26, 2021: Echo Mountain Fire area: Crews continue to work quickly in the area, with dozens of sites completed and four sites recently completed in one day and work about to begin on a local mobile home park site. Hazard tree removal work continues near debris removal operations. To allow our crews to maintain an accelerated pace, property owners who have not yet opted into the debris removal program are strongly encouraged to do so: submit a ROE agreement to allow crews on your property. Visit the Step 2 Cleanup Progress page for more details.
  • March 2, 2021: Property Status Map - By the Numbers Dashboard - Daily Project Status: Enter your property address or access number to view the Step 2 cleanup status for your property. Your property will be highlighted or outlined in one of the colors on the map legend. This is your property's status. Information is updated daily. Visit the Step 2 Cleanup Progress page for more details.
  • March 1, 2021: North Lincoln County there is still time to participate in the state-led cleanup. Wildfire Debris Cleanup Hotline: 503-934-1700 Home and business owners must sign a Right of Entry Form with their county to allow cleanup crews onto their property. Even those who did not join in Step 1 of the cleanup, which focused on hazardous household waste, may still opt into the program. For more information, visit the Wildfire.oregon.gov - Cleanup page.
  • February 16, 2021: Property owners who have submitted ROE (Right of Entry) will be receiving the Right of Entry - Property Owner - Tree Removal Letter Fact Sheet (PDF) letter today via email and through the postal service. Ash and debris removal is the culmination of cleanup for property owners. Before it can occur, any trees hazardous to crews must be removed.
  • February 13, 2021: Echo Mountain Fire Area: Hazard tree removal work and planning on impacted properties is underway, and work orders for ash and debris removal on properties will begin in the coming weeks. Prep for this work includes the final stages of environmental testing, placing address signs, coordinating with property owners and mobilizing crews. Wet weather continues to play a factor on the coast.  Learn more about the February 12, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • February 5, 2021: Echo Mountain Fire Area Debris Removal: Weather continues to play a factor as work to remove hazard trees on nine properties is expected in the upcoming week. Work orders will be issued for ash and debris removal shortly. Prep work continues and includes finishing environmental testing, placing address signs, coordinating with property owners, and mobilizing crews for debris cleanup. Learn more about the February 5, 2021, Weekly Update.
  • January 20, 2021: The Northern Oregon operation (roughly Lane County, northward) continues with hazard tree removal and assessments amidst adverse weather, including hazard tree marking, staging, and log processing operations in multiple major impacted corridors. Asbestos testing continues in the Lincoln City area and hazardous tree assessments are occurring near home sites in the area. Throughout the Northern Operation, crews are preparing for debris cleanup work on sites and installing address signs
  • January 14, 2021: - Echo Mountain Fire Areas) Crews around the state are beginning to clear roads and private properties of trees damaged in September's wildfires. Before crews begin clearing hazardous trees from private property, they will clear the remaining logs and debris from roadsides. Drivers in fire-affected areas should keep an eye out for crews and be prepared to stop.
  • December 16, 2020: Oregon property owners affected by September's wildfires must provide specific cleanup needs to help crews plan and schedule upcoming work - Wildfire.oregon.gov - Cleanup page.
    • Those participating in the Oregon Wildfire Recovery Debris Management Task Force Step 2 cleanup need to complete a questionnaire asking for property-specific information including how many buildings were on the property, the number of burned vehicles, and the locations of underground tanks and foundations.
    • Property owners should watch for a letter or email from the task force with details on how to access the questionnaire and should complete it as soon as possible on the Wildfire.oregon.gov - Cleanup page. The letter and questionnaire are available in alternate formats and multiple languages. If someone is not able to complete the questionnaire online, they can call the wildfire hotline at 503-934-1700. These will be resolved as quickly as possible.
  • November 25, 2020: Who do people contact about having trees evaluated for safety or erosion questions?
    • Tree evaluation: If you signed an ROE there is no need to make formal contact for tree evaluation. ODOT will be leading the (Step 2) clean-up process starting in December for folks with ROEs; this will also include Hazard Trees. In addition, there is still time to sign a Right of Entry (ROE). For property owners who have acreage (trees distant from homes or highways), who have immediate concerns, or wish to do it all themselves, they would contract with an arborist.
    • Concerns about erosion may be directed to Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District at 541-265-2631.
  • November 23, 2020: Wildfire Ash and Debris Cleanup Monitoring Contract Awarded.
    • The monitoring oversight contract is the first of the debris management cleanup contracts to be awarded under Step 2 of Oregon wildfire cleanup. The hazardous tree removal contract bids have been received and will be awarded soon. The ash and debris removal contract request for proposal is currently in the bidding process.
    • Wildfire Debris Cleanup Hotline: 503-934-1700
    • Oregon's Debris Management Task Force, which includes the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Transportation, and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, is coordinating federal, state, and local government agencies to clean up debris.
  • November 16, 2020: The State of Oregon will provide no-cost wildfire ash and debris cleanup for all homes and businesses in the eight counties affected by the disastrous September wildfires, the Oregon Debris Management Task Force announced today. This cleanup includes mobile home parks, second homes, businesses, and other structures.
    • Home and business owners that opt into this government-led wildfire cleanup program will pay no upfront costs for any cleanup work. Additionally, no government agency - state, federal, or contractor - will seek payment from any insurance policy unless it is specifically designated for debris removal or left over after the home or business is completely rebuilt.
    • FEMA will reimburse the state for a portion of eligible costs. The State of Oregon will fund the remaining costs, regardless of FEMA reimbursement.
    • Property owners need to sign a Right of Entry form to allow cleanup crews onto their property. Cleanup crews will remove ash and structural debris, hazard trees, concrete foundations, and burned vehicles. To submit your Right of Entry form and for more information, visit Wildfire.oregon.gov - Cleanup page or call the Wildfire Debris Cleanup Hotline: 503-934-1700.
  • November 13, 2020: State Analyzing Post-fire Erosion Threats as Part of Recovery.
    • Oregon state agencies and federal and local partners formed a multi-agency team to analyze potential post-fire flooding and erosion threats on and below public and private lands as a result of September's catastrophic wildfires in western Oregon. The team's work will prioritize evaluating threats to human life, water quality, and other important ecological functions. A fact sheet answering broad questions about the ETART effort.
  • November 9, 2020: Notice of Erosion Control Event Saturday, November 14th.
    • On Saturday, November 14th, a volunteer event is scheduled to install erosion control measures on many properties that submitted ROEs. Volunteers will be spreading hay, installing silt fences, and placing wattles (erosion control logs). The event is intended to button up/winterize/protect the streams and waterways from potentially hazardous ash debris from burned cars and structures until the full clean-up can commence. Volunteers will be mobilizing at the corner of North Panther Creek Road and North Hillside Drive.
    • Others can also join the event. Volunteers can register on the Smartsheet website.
    • In preparation, this week properties around Panther Creek will be marked with large stakes Labeled "X EC Number ". Not all properties will be marked ahead of time and not all properties will receive Erosion Control measures. Volunteers will be working with local the local Soil and Water District on mapping key locations. It is also noteworthy that part of the intersection of North Panther Creek Road and North Hillside Drive will be blocked off on Friday and Saturday for the event.
    • If you have any questions, please email the Lincoln County Solid Waste District or call 541-574-1285.
  • November 3, 2020: Environmental Protection Agency contractors will begin HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) Phase 1 evaluation and cleanup efforts this weekend on sites that completed ROEs in north Lincoln County.
    • EPA Fire Recovery Story Map: Property owners can view work progress in the area and the latest information available about their property.
    • EPA starts reconnaissance and evaluation of north county properties Thursday, November 5th. Actual (Phase 1 HHW) removal is expected Saturday. November 7th. EPA contractors will be in clearly marked vehicles and will be working during the weekend.
    • Household hazardous waste (HHW) requires special handling and disposal. HHW includes everyday products like paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, herbicides, and pesticides. These products, which often contain hazardous ingredients, will be removed by cleanup crews. Pressurized fuel cylinders (for example, propane tanks) could also pose a threat and, as such, will be removed or defueled by cleanup crews during Phase 1 of operations.
    • Empty containers on properties will be marked with white paint and left for removal during the second phase of the cleanup effort, which includes removing remaining debris on properties by the State of Oregon (ODOT).
    • After a cleanup crew completes HHW removal at a property, a completion sign is placed on site. Crews also leave a fact sheet explaining the hazards posed by debris remaining on the property and precautions residents should take when entering their property.
    • Property owners who have not signed the 'Right of Entry' form should call 682-800-5737 or visit Wildfire.oregon.gov - Cleanup page.
    • For questions about EPA's hazardous waste removal from your property, call the EPA hotline at 541-225-5549.
    • Community waterway protection and erosion control efforts are expected to begin in the second week of November. These efforts are intended to button up and winterize the area to protect the streams and waterways from potentially hazardous ash debris from burned cars and structures until the full clean-up can commence. Email the Lincoln County Solid Waste District or call 541-574-1285 for details.