Bishop Estates residents now have until Sept. 1 to move debris from the Stinky Fire into the county right-of-way after Potter County commissioners agreed the original deadline didn't give many homeowners enough time to finish the difficult work.
Commissioners voted to extend the deadline from Aug. 10 following concerns from residents who said they are still clearing burned trees, sorting debris and, in some cases, searching through the ashes of their homes.
The deadline is an important step as Potter County prepares to hire a contractor to remove debris left behind by the May wildfire. Before that can happen, homeowners must separate materials into specific categories so they can be hauled to the proper disposal sites.
"We need to separate the vegetative debris. So the tree limbs, the trees, the brush with steel. Any metal needs to be separated if there's any white goods. So things such as appliances, dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, things like that, they need to be separated as well, as well as any ash, construction or demolition materials. Those need to be standing alone by themselves," said Max Dunlap, coordinator of the Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management.
County officials said one of the biggest challenges has been mixed debris piles. Trees, appliances, metal and construction materials all have to be taken to different facilities, making separation essential before contractors begin hauling.
Another issue is that some debris has been placed on private property instead of within the county right-of-way.
"Until I have been directed otherwise, we will not be going onto private property to pick up debris," Dunlap said.
County Attorney Scott Brumley told commissioners the Texas Constitution limits how public money can be spent. While the county can remove debris from public right-of-ways because it benefits county property, it cannot generally pay to clean up private property. Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, or VOAD, have been helping some homeowners with that work.
For many families, however, the cleanup has been anything but simple.
Bishop Estates resident Ximena Lobbett, whose home was destroyed in the fire, told commissioners she and her husband are still trying to work through what remains of their property.
"Our problem is there's so many trees that died because of the, you know, we had 10 or 15 trees on, and they're all dead. They're black. They have to be cut down on top of moving all the metal ash. We're still trying to sift through some of the ash to find my jewelry," Lobbett said.
Other residents echoed those frustrations during the meeting, saying debris has sat along roadsides for months and has begun attracting mice and rats. They also argued the original Aug. 10 deadline didn't leave enough time to finish the work.
Commissioner Warren Coble Sr. agreed residents needed more time and encouraged patience as the county begins what will likely be a lengthy cleanup effort. Commissioners ultimately approved extending the deadline to Sept. 1.
Once that deadline passes, the county plans to issue a request for proposals seeking a contractor to handle debris removal. Dunlap has estimated the process could take six to eight weeks, although additional debris placed in the right-of-way after work begins will be addressed as it is added.
Residents don't have to wait until September if they want to start clearing their properties.
Potter County Commissioner John Coffee said Bishop Estates residents affected by the Stinky Fire can take trees, brush and other organic material to the City of Amarillo landfill at no charge by providing their address.
"The organic material can go to the city landfill. And the which by the way, if you let me sit there, the citizens of that Stinky Fire can take that. Now out to landfill and they shouldn't be charged and, and they should be allowed to dump that," Coffee said.
Coffee said construction debris and other non-organic materials should be taken to the Canyon landfill, which is equipped to handle those materials.
