Following the recent catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, the U.S. EPA hit a major milestone in the agency鈥檚 largest ever wildfire hazardous waste cleanup. Work began on January 28, and in under three weeks EPA has already cleared or deferred 75% of the properties that were impacted by the fires. With hazardous materials safely removed, Los Angeles will be able to move forward and begin to rebuild.
鈥淓PA staff on the ground are working around the clock to get as many properties cleared of hazardous material as quickly and safely as possible. Not only is this the largest wildfire cleanup in the agency鈥檚 history, but it will go down as the speediest recovery thanks to presidential leadership and a hardworking, passionate team at EPA. Californians and all Americans can rest assured, EPA will always be there to respond to emergencies and help rebuild,鈥� said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
EPA partnered with the U.S. military and Department of 国产麻豆land Security to develop and execute a plan to expedite the removal of contaminated and general debris for the 13,595 residential properties and 305 commercial properties impacted.聽聽Administrator Zeldin traveled to Los Angeles on February 6, 2025, to survey damage and meet with EPA personnel on the ground.
By the numbers:聽
- 1,601 personnel in the field
- 121 teams
- 88 hazardous material removal teams
- 14 lithium-ion battery teams
- 19 recon (survey) teams
- 12,024 properties surveyed (89%)
- 6,506 Eaton Fire
- 5,518 Palisades Fire
- 7,100 properties cleared
- 3,865 Eaton Fire
- 3,235 Palisades Fire
- 3,475 properties deferred to Phase 2
- 892 Electric Vehicles and Bulk Energy Storage Systems Removed
EPA has been assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the first phase of the overall recovery and cleanup: the project to remove lithium-ion batteries and to survey, remove, and dispose of hazardous materials from properties burned by wildfires. This work, conducted at no cost to residents, ensures the safety of residents and the workers who will 鈥� after the hazardous material is gone 鈥� conduct Phase 2 debris removal in the burn footprints, and prevent these materials from being released into the environment. Phase 2 will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as coordinated by FEMA.
EPA will remove potentially dangerous everyday products and chemicals, including things like paints, cleaning supplies, and automotive oils, lawn products such as herbicides and pesticides, batteries, including both standard and rechargeable types, and propane tanks and other pressurized gas containers. They will remove visible asbestos and inspect pressurized fuel cylinders (like propane tanks). After a fire, these products require special handling, especially if their containers are damaged. EPA field teams will also remove items thought to have asbestos if they are easy to identify, but the property will not be fully cleared until Phase 2 (debris removal).
Properties deferred to Phase 2 means that due to the presence of unsafe conditions at the property, household hazardous waste removal crews cannot complete Phase 1 assessment and certification. In this case, household hazardous waste removal activities will be included during Phase 2 removal.
EPA will also remove lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, homes and other products. Many homes have damaged or destroyed lithium-ion batteries, lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, and electric and hybrid vehicles. The batteries should be considered extremely dangerous, even if they look intact. Lithium-ion batteries can spontaneously re-ignite, explode, and emit toxic gases and particulates even after the fire is out.
Additionally, EPA has convened a working group to coordinate with utilities, state, local and federal stakeholders to expedite cleanup operations and meet unmet needs in the sector. At the request of water utilities, EPA is also providing technical assistance to help bring systems back online. EPA is also offering technical assistance as local air authorities monitor for air pollution in the communities impacted by both fires.