𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗭𝗢𝗡𝗘: EPA and Specialists Assess Palisades Fire Damage

On Thursday, January 30, 2025, a coalition of environmental experts and specialized organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force Pacific Strike Team, a Certified Arborist from CalTLC, and the Los Angeles Fire Department, conducted inspections of homes in Pacific Palisades. This reconnaissance mission is part of ongoing recovery efforts after the catastrophic Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025.
The wildfire devastated over 23,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures, and claimed at least 27 lives, displacing more than 100,000 residents across Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. Fueled by intense Santa Ana winds and prolonged drought, the fire spread rapidly, with containment efforts hindered by extreme conditions. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Why is U.S. EPA Involved in the Wildfire Response?
On January 8, 2025, President Biden signed a federal disaster declaration for the 2025 Southern California wildfires. This released millions of dollars in federal funds to assist with state and local fire cleanup and recovery efforts. On January 14, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assigned the U.S. EPA to assess, remove, and safely dispose of hazardous materials from all burned areas. Later, on January 24, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas,” directing the EPA to complete its hazardous materials mission in Los Angeles as soon as practical.
The U.S. EPA's hazardous material removal work is Phase 1 of the federal cleanup response and is provided at no cost to residents.
U.S. EPA Fire Response Actions
The EPA's role involves the special handling and safe disposal of hazardous materials from burned properties. These materials are sent to licensed disposal facilities rather than municipal landfills. Cleanup crews remove everyday hazardous materials such as paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, herbicides, and pesticides. Pressurized fuel cylinders, such as propane tanks, are either removed or defueled by cleanup crews, with empty tanks marked for Phase 2 debris removal.
Additional tasks include the safe removal of lithium-ion and high-voltage batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles and home backup power supplies. Crews decommission and recycle these batteries in compliance with safety and environmental standards.
What You Can Expect After U.S. EPA Visits Your Property
Once hazardous materials have been removed from a property, EPA crews place a completion sign on-site, indicating that Phase 1 has been finalized. Residents are encouraged to remain cautious and follow guidelines as recovery operations progress.
The U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force Pacific Strike Team, known for its expertise in hazardous substance response and emergency management, partnered with the EPA in minimizing environmental and public health risks during these inspections. A Certified Arborist from CalTLC also joined the effort to evaluate tree safety and identify potential hazards in the fire-affected areas.
Together, these organizations form a unified front, dedicated to protecting public health, restoring the environment, and aiding the community's recovery. Their collaborative efforts emphasize the importance of specialized knowledge and coordinated action during large-scale recovery operations.
The Palisades Fire left a lasting impact on the region, with widespread destruction and challenges such as mudslides and debris flow following recent rainfall. With evacuation orders lifted as of January 27, recovery operations, including debris removal and utility restoration, are now in full swing. These efforts provide a foundation of hope and resilience for affected residents as they begin to rebuild their lives.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲-𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.
© 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇/𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.
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