At all times safety concerns must be addressed with damaged septic tanks. If the top of a septic tank is damaged, typically the inside of the tank is exposed. This poses a safety hazard for people and wildlife for falling into the tank. It also exposes people to the unhealthy wastewater inside. A septic tank that has undergone this kind of damage is required to be removed or destroyed in place. This is done under a permit issued by the Butte County Environmental Health Division. Typically, there is no effective method of repairing the top of a septic tank that has been damaged by fire, whether it is a plastic or concrete tank, and a repair is not allowed.