San Diego County waives fees for Coches Fire victims who lost homes

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- After a fast-moving brush fire tore through a San Diego area mobile home park in early September, impacted residents who lost their homes are getting some relief.

The Coches Fire broke out on Sept. 8 between two neighborhoods close to the I-8 freeway in Lakeside and tore through the Monterey Lodge Mobile Home Park along Los Coches Road, destroying four mobile homes and three accessory structures.

In the days following the Coches Fire, the County of San Diego put together a list of resources for those impacted, including information on property tax relief, record replacement, permits for rebuilding and repairs, food assistance and more.

On Friday, the County Board of Supervisors voted to waive some fees for things like debris removal, burned vehicle disposal, and rebuilding and document replacement for anyone who lost their home in the brush fire.

In total, the waived fees could save rebuilding residents $18,000, according to the county.

County Environmental Health and Quality estimates residents could save up to $10,098 for the septic system or water well permits, while residents could save up to $4,300 in disposal costs with these waived fees. The replacement of vital records and documents could save residents up to $500.

If you lost your home in the Coches Fire, you can apply with the County Building Division which will verify lost or damaged structures. Residents will need to provide proof of ownership to get the fee waivers.

County service fees that can be waived:

• Some solid waste disposal fees can be waived for franchise haulers, transfer stations and landfills on fire debris collected from properties damaged or destroyed in the Coches Fire
  • Residents or their contractors can inform the customer service representative that the service is for a Coches Fire-damaged property
• Household hazardous waste collection is available for free to property owners through a County Public Works (DPW) contractor
• For questions on debris collection or disposal, residents can reach out to DPW by email at recycle@sdcounty.ca.gov or by phone at 858-694-2456
• Removal and disposal of burned or damaged vehicles, including mobile homes and recreational vehicles, can be done at no cost through the County’s Vehicle Abatement Program
• Building plan check and permit issuance fees can be waived
• Septic system and water well installation permit fees and plan review fees can be waived
• Vital record, deeds and other property-related and business document replacement fees from the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Office can be waived
  • For assistance reach out to ARCCRecorderCountyClerk.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-237-0502.

The County's list of resources for those impacted by the Coches Fire can connect residents to recovery services, including financial assistance, mental health support, clothing replacement, hazardous tree removal and short-term housing for households whose homes were destroyed.

A Planning and Development Services recovery liaison has been assigned to each affected property owner, who are working with the impacted homeowners to help them with recovery resources, permitting and rebuilding information.

The County said guidance and resources are also being provided to property owners at no cost on request for mobile home repair and permitting, safe restoration of water wells, pools, and septic systems, off property fire damage and erosion control.