Clean-up efforts underway after fire in Niland
Residents say negligence of city escalated fire
NILAND, Calif. (KYMA, KECY)-The county of Imperial began clean-up efforts for the destruction left behind by the Niland Fire that happened on June 28.
The fire that ravaged through Niland destroyed 43 houses and displaced about 33 families.
“With all the houses gone and everything it’s just like, I know it's going to be hard to redo it again. It’s gonna take a while,” said Susan Mendoza, Niland resident.
The county said helping these families rebuild their home has been a community effort.
“I’m excited for all the team work and all the assistance we're getting from non profits and all organizations,” said Luis Plancarte, Board of Supervisors Chairman.
While families displaced by the fire take shelter at an RV park in Calipatria with travel trailers donated from the state, clean- up crews began asbestos mitigation and removal of hazardous waste and debris left by the fire.
Team Rubicon, a disaster response team of volunteer veterans from California and Arizona, came to Niland to assist with clean-up efforts.
They hope to get those affected by the fire back on their feet and in a safe home as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, some residents in Niland who were present to witness the clean-up efforts said cleaning up the city has never been a priority for the county, adding that the Niland fire escalated because code enforcement codes aren't enforced for homeowners.
“The fire started from negligence of the fire department and Imperial County. We've been having meetings since 2014. That's when I met Ryan Kelley. In front of the fire department we have a huge problem. That's why that block got burned. I told them please clean that property. They never did it,” said Aristeo Ojeda, Niland resident.
“In a lot of the empty lots there’s a lot of stuff that shouldn't be there, there's a lot of trash and a lot of dry trees. That's how the fire got started. There was so much wind that day and the flames jumped from tree to tree. A long time ago the county did come and to help clean up. They came twice, but we never saw them again. Not until this happened,” said Adelina Garcia, Niland resident.
Ryan Kelley represents the Niland district for the county. Kelley said two community clean ups in Niland were held in 2014 and 2016 to help the niland community. Since then he says that the state program that funded the clean-up was out on hold.
“There are challenges in Niland and there are properties that are overgrown or abandoned. There are always people that will have a different point of view, but as you see in this response we’re here and we are trying to help,” said Ryan Kelley, District 4 Supervisor,
Kelley says it’s up to each homeowner to clean up their property however he says the fire department is working to address fire hazards within the community.
The county of Imperial says it will take three to four weeks to safely clean all the properties.
