After weeks of devastation, the deadly southern California wildfires are nearly fully contained. However, dangerous conditions on the ground are complicating the cleanup efforts.

More than a thousand structures have been destroyed and lives lost as wildfires sweep across parts of Los Angeles.

LA Wildfires

After a period of intense destruction, the southern California wildfires are almost entirely contained. However, the process of cleaning up the affected areas is proving to be complicated due to hazardous materials scattered across the locations. These materials include remnants of electric vehicle batteries and asbestos from older structures, contributing to the toxic ash left behind by the fires.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with identifying and removing these dangerous substances before the general cleanup of debris can commence. The challenge extends beyond removal, as there is a dilemma regarding where the toxic waste should be transported. Communities along potential transport routes have expressed concerns about having hazardous materials pass through their neighborhoods.

The cleanup efforts require addressing these toxins beyond the surface, as the removal process involves scraping the affected areas to a depth of six inches to ensure thorough decontamination. This complex operation impacts not only the burned properties but also those that survived the fires. The release of toxic ash into the air during cleanup poses additional health risks for residents, highlighting ongoing safety concerns despite the containment of the wildfires.



L.A. wildfire cleanups complicated by toxic waste, debris

Well, good evening. For the first time since the fire ravaged through the Palisades here, residents are getting a chance to come home and see what's left on their properties. And in many cases, it's not much. It's just a pile of rubble. But you can tell what some things are here. I mean, that was a car. This is the most toxic material you can think of. Imagine electric vehicle batteries burning in this fire, older homes with asbestos. All of that stuff is in this ash. So it's now up to the EPA to determine where this toxic mess is, clean the toxins up, and only then can the real cleanup begin, where they scoop up all of this debris and take it out of here. But then there's the question about, where do you take it? There are people who live in communities where the trucks would drive through to the dump who would say, we don't want this stuff driving through our neighborhoods. And you can understand why. This is very, very toxic material. But only after that major cleanup occurs, and then they scrape the ground down here to six inches below the dirt to get all the toxins, only then can the building begin. And there are thousands of lots just like this out there. And for those whose homes were spared by the fire, they're not totally in the clear yet either, because every time one of these lots gets cleaned up, it's going to kick all this toxic ash up into the air, making it unsafe to live in the area, even if your home made it through the fire. Back to you. It's overwhelming. Carter Evans, thank you.

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LA Wildfires