It’s “all hands on deck” when it comes to carrying out response plans to help Santa Barbara County residents recover from the Tea Fire.
Services and coordinated responses incorporate staffers from nearly every county department, including Public Works, Planning and Development, Sheriff’s, Fire, and Public Health, as well as the Office of Emergency Services and the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.
Since the fire started in mid-November, the county has issued 102 permits, accompanied with deferring fees, for demolition and debris removal for 61 parcel owners. County officials have also processed more than 2,001 tons of fire debris at the local county landfill.
Other services provided by county employees include public health and emergency services, and education and free processing of replacement copies for vital and official records and U.S. passports.
The Public Works Department is also continuing its efforts to prevent soil erosion and prepare burn areas for possible flooding or debris flows in the coming rains.
Residents affected by the fire are encouraged to contact the county’s ombudsman, Tony Nisich, at 560-1098, to resolve any ongoing problems related to the fire.
—Amy Asman
This article appears in Dec 11-18, 2008.