Tree removals move forward

The Paradise Town Council and Butte County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 22) each adopted urgency ordinances establishing guidelines for removing hazardous trees on private property that threaten to fall on public rights-of-way. The nearly identical government-sponsored programs will work similar to the Camp Fire debris-removal program. They’re free, but will require property owners to submit right-of-entry forms.

An official with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) told the Town Council that tree inspections and removal could begin in December, with work estimated to take nine months. More than 100,000 trees are expected to be removed in Paradise alone.

The town has asked for assistance removing hazardous trees on private property that threaten private roads, but that request remains under consideration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.