SAN DIEGO -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is refusing to reimburse San Diego County $6.5 million for removing debris from private property after the October wildfires, it was reported Wednesday.

FIRESTORM 2003 Firestorm Archive: Updates, Stories, Video, Slideshows Slideshows: Viewer Fire Photos Video: 10News Fire Video Archive Discuss: Share Thoughts About Fires

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors agreed to fund the debris removal after Supervisor Diane Jacob said she had "reasonable assurances" from FEMA and state officials that the county would be reimbursed, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. County officials are appealing FEMA's rejection.

Officials say the county is eligible for reimbursement because the debris and ash were toxic and would have posed an immediate public health and safety threat if it had washed into reservoirs, the newspaper reported.

FEMA contends the county didn't prove the burned debris was hazardous or that an immediate threat existed, according to the Union-Tribune. At FEMA's request, the Environmental Protection Agency evaluated a county report on the debris and concluded the materials weren't hazardous.

The state Office of Emergency Services, which serves as an intermediary between FEMA and the county, says the county deserves to be reimbursed, the newspaper reported.

County officials told the Union-Tribune that they hope to recoup most of the private property cleanup costs from the state if the federal government rejects the appeal.

The county cleared debris from about 400 private properties, finishing the work last month, the newspaper reported.