According to officials, a “extensive” debris clearance effort is under progress in Los Angeles County to remove debris from burn scar sites in anticipation of possible rain that could cause hazardous landslides and flow.
Leading the collaboration to clear fire debris and hazardous items from burn scars from the Eaton and Palisades fires is the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
Residents are not permitted to remove fire debris from damaged and burned properties in critical fire regions until a hazardous materials examination has been completed by an authorized government agency, according to a local health emergency order issued by the Los Angeles County health officer.
Lead, asbestos, mercury, and other pollutants can be found in fire debris, according to a warning from LA County Public Works.
Rain is expected in some areas of Los Angeles, which could cause catastrophic mudslides and debris to wash into beaches, rivers, and other bodies of water, according to forecasters. Before it rains, crews are trying to clear as much debris as they can.
There are two stages to the debris removal process. The two phases must be completed, according to officials, in order to guarantee the crews’ and residents’ safety.
Fueled by destructive and potentially fatal Santa Ana winds, the disastrous Eaton and Palisades fires erupted on January 7 and destroyed almost 37,000 acres.
An investigation into the evacuation alert systems is also in progress. Kathryn Barger, the chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, proposed hiring a consultant to examine the emergency alert communication systems and evacuation procedures. According to Barger, the county completes an after-action report following any significant tragedy. She aimed to provide victims openness and further the analysis.
Following emergency notifications concerning obligatory evacuation orders, thousands of citizens were compelled to leave their houses.
Phase 1:
Household hazardous waste removal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency personnel designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are carrying out the initial stage of clearing home hazardous material from fire-affected communities.
In order to appropriately package and dispose of the hazardous items, assessment teams started working on January 16 and have set up temporary staging areas at both fire sites, according to U.S. EPA Incident Commander Tara Fitzgerald. Early next week, teams will start getting rid of materials at the staging area.
“The State of California issued an order on January 15, 2025 granting EPA authority to access properties without permission from the property owner,” stated LA County Public Works.
All inhabitants in areas affected by fire are entitled to free removal of household hazardous materials.
As it is finished, “U.S. EPA will be placing a placard on each property,” stated Mark Pestrella, director of the LA County Department of Public Works.
According to LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, the U.S. EPA has deployed over 500 staff and committed $100 million in the removal operation.
In the event that wind gusts above 30 mph, teams will momentarily cease activities. In order to guarantee everyone’s safety, Fitzgerald stated that if residents are there when personnel arrive, they will depart and return later.
Among the hazardous materials are:
Phase 2: Fire debris removal
Phase two, according to Barger, was a far more ambitious undertaking. The Army Corps of Engineers has been asked by FEMA to lead this part of the debris cleanup effort.
Following the removal of all domestic hazardous waste from houses harmed by fire by the U.S. EPA, representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers will be dispatched to remove any residual fire debris.
According to Horvath, residents can choose whether to use the free fire debris removal services or not.
“You can also hire a private vendor, if you choose to go that route you still have to adhere to all of the policies outlined by the EPA and relevant departments,” Horvath stated.
Residents will need to sign a right of entry form if they choose to participate in the service, according to Col. Eric Swenson, Field Office Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“That is the legal document that residents who own private property that was impacted by the fires will sign allowing the federal government and my agency with our contractors to enter your property for the purposes of private property debris removal,” Swenson stated.
Officials won’t completely clear properties until both stages are finished.
Contact information for debris removal
Hotline for Debris Removal: (844) 347-3332
Hotline for Mud and Debris Flow: (800) 933-0930
Public Works Department of LA County: (626) 458-5100