Zogg Fire survivors are now eligible for federal disaster assistance from FEMA and the SBA. Shasta County was added Friday to the latest disaster declaration and survivors can register under the declaration number 4569 through disasterassistance.gov or the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Shasta County and the Zogg Fire had not been included in the initial presidential disaster declaration, which had already been long-awaited following multiple requests from the State of California. Assistance is available for renters as well as property owners.
State hazmat crews will begin removing household hazardous waste from the Zogg Fire zone beginning Monday. The Department of Toxic Substances Control will have two crews combing the remnants of destroyed homes and hauling away car batteries, used motor oil and filters, fertilizers, pesticides, smaller propane tanks, paint, solvents, easily removable asbestos, and anything else that poses a threat to people, animals or the environment. The materials can’t be disposed of in local landfills and must be handled separately from other burn debris. The operation should take about two weeks. Property owners do not have a choice in the matter, and permission will not be sought, but the county will seek contact for access to be arranged. As properties are completed, they’ll be posted to a dashboard accessible through shastaready.org.