$2M Tetra Tech Camp Fire Cleanup Settlement, Did They Shortchange Your Wages? File for Claim Before June 2, 2026

Tetra Tech Inc. agreed to pay $2,000,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming it violated California wage-and-hour laws and failed to pay tribal monitors and field supervisors everything they earned during the Camp Fire debris cleanup project. Workers who performed qualifying shifts between January 10, 2019, and March 13, 2020, under Mechoopda Cultural Resource Preservation Enterprise do not need to file a claim form — but they must submit a W-9 form and payment election by June 2, 2026 to receive their share.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$2,000,000
W-9 / Payment Deadline	June 2, 2026
Who Qualifies	Tribal monitors and field supervisors paid by Mechoopda Cultural Resource Preservation Enterprise on the Camp Fire cleanup project between Jan. 10, 2019, and Mar. 13, 2020
Payout Per Person	Varies — based on number of qualifying shifts worked
Claim Form Required	No — but a W-9 form and payment election must be submitted
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Administrator	Apex Class Action LLC
Official Website	campfiremonitorsettlement.com

Where Things Stand Right Now

• The settlement has received preliminary approval and the official website is live at campfiremonitorsettlement.com. Workers must submit a W-9 form and payment election by June 2, 2026 — that same date is also the opt-out and workweek challenge deadline.
• The final approval hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2026. If the court grants final approval, payments go out approximately 28 days after any appeals are resolved.
• The settlement administrator already identified eligible class members using Tetra Tech’s own shift records. If you received a settlement notice, Tetra Tech’s records indicate you likely qualify.

What Was This Lawsuit About?

In November 2018, the Camp Fire tore through Butte County, California — destroying nearly 14,000 homes and killing 85 people. It became the most destructive wildfire ever recorded in California at that time. CalRecycle, the state agency overseeing debris removal, awarded Tetra Tech Inc. a contract worth approximately $250,000,000 to manage the cleanup of the devastated area around Paradise, California.

As part of that project, Tetra Tech hired tribal monitors and field supervisors through Mechoopda Cultural Resource Preservation Enterprise to work on the cleanup sites. The class action lawsuit — Joseph Strang v. Tetra Tech Inc., Case No. 21STCV14605 — alleged that Tetra Tech failed to ensure those workers received all wages they actually earned for time worked on the project, in violation of California labor law and the terms of its prime contract with CalRecycle.

Tetra Tech denies all allegations and any wrongdoing. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of a trial.

Related article: Volkswagen Jetta Recall, 63,000+ Vehicles at Risk of Engine Fire What Owners Must Do Now

Who Gets a Payment From This Settlement?

You qualify as a class member if you meet all four of the following:

• You may qualify if Mechoopda Cultural Resource Preservation Enterprise paid you for your work.
• You may qualify if you performed work as a tribal monitor and/or field supervisor.
• You may qualify if you worked on the Camp Fire cleanup project in Butte County, California.
• You may qualify if you worked any time between January 10, 2019, and March 13, 2020.

The settlement administrator already identified eligible workers using Tetra Tech’s own time records, known as “214s.” If you received a notice about this settlement in the mail, Tetra Tech’s records show you are likely a class member.

If you believe the records do not accurately reflect the number of qualifying shifts you actually worked, you can challenge that calculation. You must submit copies — not originals — of your supporting documents to the administrator by mail or email by June 2, 2026.

How Much Will You Receive?

Your payment depends on how many qualifying shifts you worked during the class period — not a fixed dollar amount. Here is exactly how the math works:

How qualifying shifts are counted:

• Tribal monitor shifts: Each shift over eight hours counts as 1 qualifying shift.
• Field supervisor shifts: Each shift over eight hours counts as 1.5 qualifying shifts — supervisors receive a higher weight.

How your payment is calculated: The administrator adds up every qualifying shift across all participating class members. It then divides the net settlement fund by that total to find the per-shift dollar value. Your payment equals that per-shift value multiplied by your individual qualifying shifts.

Estimated net fund available to workers: Approximately $1,210,750 after deductions for attorneys’ fees (up to $700,000), attorneys’ expenses (up to $70,000), settlement administration costs (up to $4,250), and a service award to class representative Joseph Strang (up to $15,000). Any amount the court awards below the maximum for fees or the service award gets added back into the worker payment pool — none of the fund reverts to Tetra Tech.

How to Get Your Payment

Unlike most class action settlements, you do not need to submit a claim form. However, you must complete two steps to receive your money.

Step 1 — Visit campfiremonitorsettlement.com and click “Payment Election & W-9 Form.”

Step 2 — Complete and submit your W-9 form online. This is a standard IRS tax form — you need your full legal name, address, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number. Without a W-9, the administrator cannot issue your payment.

Step 3 — While completing the W-9, select your preferred payment method: electronic payment via ACH, Venmo, or Zelle. If you do not make an election or your electronic payment details are incomplete, the administrator will mail you a paper check to the address on file.

Step 4 — If you believe your shift count in the records is wrong, gather copies of any documents that show your actual shifts — such as time cards, schedules, or correspondence — and submit them to the administrator by mail or email at [email protected] before June 2, 2026.

Step 5 — Save your submission confirmation and monitor campfiremonitorsettlement.com for updates on the final approval hearing and payment timeline.

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes if your information is ready.

Important Deadlines

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	January 10, 2019
Class Period Ends	March 13, 2020
W-9 & Payment Election Deadline	June 2, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	June 2, 2026
Deadline to Challenge Shift Records	June 2, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 28, 2026
Expected Payment Date	Approximately 28 days after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to participate in this settlement? 

No. You do not need a lawyer to submit your W-9 form or payment election. The process takes just a few minutes online at campfiremonitorsettlement.com. If you want to opt out and pursue your own legal claim against Tetra Tech, you may want to consult an employment attorney before the June 2, 2026 deadline.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. This is a real California state court case — Joseph Strang v. Tetra Tech Inc., Case No. 21STCV14605. The settlement administrator is Apex Class Action LLC, a professional claims administration firm. The official settlement website is campfiremonitorsettlement.com and the administrator’s phone number is 1-800-355-0700.

When will I receive my payment?

 Payments go out approximately 28 days after the court grants final approval and resolves any appeals. The final approval hearing is July 28, 2026. Check campfiremonitorsettlement.com for updates after that date.

What if I missed the deadline?

 The deadline is June 2, 2026 — it has not passed yet. If you miss it, you will not receive a payment and you may also lose your right to opt out. Act now to protect your share of the $2,000,000 fund.

Will my settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Wage-related settlement payments are generally treated as taxable income and you may receive a tax form from the administrator. That is exactly why the settlement requires a W-9 — the administrator needs your taxpayer information to report the payment to the IRS. Consult a tax professional if you have questions about how this payment affects your specific tax situation.

What if I think my shift count is wrong? 

You have the right to challenge the number of qualifying shifts the administrator assigned to you. Submit copies — not originals — of supporting documents such as time cards, pay stubs, or correspondence showing the shifts you actually worked. Send them to the administrator by mail or at [email protected] no later than June 2, 2026.

Can I opt out and sue Tetra Tech on my own?

 Yes. If you want to keep your right to pursue your own wage claim against Tetra Tech separately, you must mail a written opt-out request to the settlement administrator, postmarked no later than June 2, 2026, at: Apex Class Action LLC, PO Box 54668, Irvine, CA 92619. If you opt out, you will not receive any payment from this settlement.

What if I do nothing at all?

 If you do nothing — meaning you do not submit a W-9, do not opt out, and do not challenge your shift records — you will not receive a payment. You will also remain bound by the settlement and give up your right to sue Tetra Tech separately over the wage claims in this lawsuit.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website — campfiremonitorsettlement.com
2. W-9 & Payment Election Form
3. Important Documents — Settlement Agreement & Class Notice
4. Apex Class Action LLC — Settlement Administrator

Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.