EPA Hits 75% Complete Milestone in Agency’s Largest Ever Wildfire Cleanup
WASHINGTON – Following the recent catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just hit a major milestone in the agency’s largest ever wildfire hazardous waste cleanup. President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on January 24, 2025, directing EPA to complete this hazardous materials mission within 30 days. 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. EPA is on track to meet the President’s ambitious deadline. With hazardous materials safely removed, Los Angeles will be able to move forward and begin to rebuild.
“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. 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. Californians and all Americans can rest assured, EPA will always be there to respond to emergencies and help rebuild,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
At the direction of President Trump, EPA partnered with the U.S. military and Department of Homeland 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.
Administrator Zeldin traveled to Los Angeles on February 6, 2025, to survey damage and meet with EPA personnel on the ground.
By the numbers:
- 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 — after the hazardous material is gone — 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.
If residents are on their property when EPA arrives for the hazardous materials removal, the crew will not be able to conduct work at that property and will return at a later time. EPA will remove only hazardous materials, by hand, and will not remove any non-hazardous materials. If crews find objects of value, EPA will contact local law enforcement to track and remove the objects for safekeeping.
EPA has secured temporary storage, or staging, locations for materials from each fire site. Staging areas are essential to the hazardous material and ultimately debris removal process and will enable residents to rebuild their homes faster. Removed hazardous waste materials are packaged where they are collected and arrive to the staging area sealed and remain sealed throughout the process. At the staging area, they are processed into appropriate waste streams and further packaged for safety during shipment and proper disposal. EPA is using best management practices to process any hazardous household material and keep it contained within the facility. Throughout this process, EPA will conduct air monitoring to ensure that operations in and around the site are health protective.
This guidance has been shared with impacted communities.
The public can find more information about EPA’s hazardous material removal operations at EPA’s 2025 California Wildfires website. This website is continuously updated as EPA's work moves forward.