The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undertaking the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in its history, assisting local governments and residents following catastrophic fires in Los Angeles County.
EPA has completed reconnaissance at 6,022 properties, including 3,636 affected by the Eaton Fire and 2,386 by the Palisades Fire. The agency has successfully removed 80 electric vehicles and bulk energy storage systems — both highly hazardous to public safety and the environment — and continues to expand operations.
More than 1,300 response personnel are in the field, a significant increase from 478 at the beginning of operations. EPA is assembling 60 teams to clear hazardous materials from more than 13,000 residential and 250 commercial fire-damaged properties.
To accelerate cleanup efforts, EPA convened a working group to coordinate with utilities, as well as state, local, and federal stakeholders. Additionally, at the request of water utilities, EPA is providing technical assistance to restore water systems.
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“EPA staff on the ground are working around the clock to get as many properties cleared of hazardous material as quickly and safely as possible,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a February 17 statement. “Not only is this the largest wildfire cleanup in the agency’s history, but it will go down as the speediest recovery thanks to presidential leadership and a hardworking, passionate team at EPA.”
Work began on January 28, and in under three weeks the EPA has already cleared or deferred 75% of the properties that were impacted by the fires.
Despite the new crews, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it won’t order soil testing at properties damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires after they have been cleaned by private federal contractors.
Under direction from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), EPA is responsible for the first phase of recovery — removing lithium-ion batteries and other hazardous materials from fire-damaged properties.
On January 24 President Trump issued Executive Order Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas, directing EPA to expedite its hazardous materials cleanup mission in response to the Los Angeles wildfires. EPA’s work is Phase 1 of the federal cleanup response and is provided at no cost to residents. This mandatory process ensures the safety of both residents and cleanup workers. Following Phase 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct Phase 2 — debris removal — coordinated by FEMA. Once a property completes Phase 1, Phase 2 will begin automatically.
As part of its hazardous materials removal efforts, EPA will eliminate potentially dangerous everyday household products such as paints, cleaning supplies, automotive oils, pesticides, and propane tanks. Crews will also remove visible asbestos and inspect pressurized fuel cylinders. Because fire damage can compromise these materials, they require specialized handling.
EPA is prioritizing the removal of lithium-ion batteries from homes, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems, as these pose significant risks. Even if they appear intact, lithium-ion batteries can re-ignite, explode, and release toxic gases and particulates.
Under President Trump’s directive, EPA is collaborating with the U.S. military and the Department of Homeland Security to streamline debris removal efforts. To ensure efficient operations, EPA has secured temporary storage sites where hazardous materials from fire-impacted properties are processed and properly disposed of.
Residents have been advised that EPA crews will not conduct hazardous materials removal if individuals are present on the property at the time of arrival. Additionally, EPA will only handle hazardous materials by hand, leaving non-hazardous items for Phase 2 cleanup. Any valuable objects discovered will be reported to local law enforcement for safekeeping.
