Crews with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began sifting through the rubble of the devastating Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, looking to clear potentially dangerous and hazardous materials from ash-covered lots flattened by the wildfire.

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

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Crews from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have initiated the challenging process of clearing hazardous materials from the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. This task involves removing potentially dangerous items such as batteries, paint, and propane cans from the rubble of homes and properties devastated by the wildfire. According to Harry Allen, a veteran on-site coordinator with the EPA, this cleanup effort is one of the most complex the agency has encountered.

The initial phase of the cleanup, managed by the EPA, aims to ensure the safety of returning residents by eliminating explosion hazards, fire risks, and potential chemical injuries. This phase precedes further cleanup work by government or private contractors using heavy equipment. A key objective is also to prevent hazardous materials, like lithium batteries, from being improperly disposed of, which could lead to fires in municipal waste facilities.

Recently, President Donald Trump issued an executive order for the EPA to expedite the removal of hazardous materials, setting a deadline for completion. The prompt action is seen as vital to allow residents the opportunity to safely return to their properties, assess the damage, and begin rebuilding their lives in the affected area.



Weeks after the wildfires, California faces a hazardous cleanup

Weeks after the Eaton fire ripped through the city of Altadena, just outside of Los Angeles, crews have begun the daunting task of clearing hazardous materials left behind. On Thursday, workers with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, rummaged through the rubble of scorched plots, plucking out materials like batteries and paint and propane cans by hand. Yes, it's certainly the biggest job I think we've encountered. Twenty-two-year EPA veteran and on-site coordinator Harry Allen says it's one of the most complex jobs the agency has ever seen. We want to make it safe for people to come back and look through the remains of the fire without having to worry about explosion hazards and fire hazards or chemical injury. The EPA is running the initial phase of cleanup before government or private contractors come in with heavy equipment to clear entire lots. In addition to making the environment safe for residents to return, this initial removal phase also ensures that hazardous materials, like lithium batteries, don't wind up in the municipal trash where they can catch fire. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week directing the EPA to complete the removal of hazardous materials, quote, as soon as practical. The administration gave the agency a deadline of February 25th. And then, you know, the pressure's here. You know, people want to return to work and they want to return home. They want to come in and see what's left of their place and try to rebuild. And, you know, making that happen quickly for Angelenos is really important to us.

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