This month’s deadly and destructive Los Angeles fires that claimed 28 lives burned with such intensity that electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries melted to the ground, creating hazardous conditions as residents began returning to their communities on Jan. 28.
Specialists with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were leading the large-scale cleanup of the batteries Tuesday.
The Palisades Fire burned more than 36 square miles and tore through neighborhoods full of electric vehicles and solar panels after years of state-sponsored green-energy policies.
The size of the Palisades fire and the number of lithium-ion batteries left behind make it one of the largest hazardous-materials cleanups that local first responders have seen, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Adam VanGerpen.
“We’ve never seen it on this scale,” VanGerpen told The Epoch Times. “We are talking a very large scale.”
Lithium-ion batteries are used in cellphones, tablets, laptops, wireless headphones, electric cars, and solar panel storage.
Many of the batteries and electric vehicles melted after they were abandoned by fleeing residents starting Jan. 7, VanGerpen said.
“We have to remove the entire vehicle,” he added.
Actor and Pacific Palisades homeowner James Woods said in a post on social media platform X Monday that the melted electric cars were “creating a real problem for safe debris removal.”
“While I am grateful to have President Trump in charge of the federal assistance so desperately needed, we can’t ignore that the electric cars have literally melted into the earth where they stood,” Woods wrote.
LAFD hazmat crews have surveyed the fire zone, searching through 6,837 destroyed homes and buildings, and 12,317 others that were damaged, according to numbers issued Tuesday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The teams used software to locate and flag the zone’s lithium-ion batteries, according to VanGerpen.
Some batteries appear intact and untouched but could still produce toxic gases, reignite, or explode, making them the first priority for cleanup crews, he said.
All new homes built in California since Jan. 1, 2020, are required to have solar panels, which also require the installation of lithium-ion batteries.
Pacific Palisades Charter High School, which was destroyed in the fire, was in the process of adding solar panels to its buildings before the disaster.
Local officials lifted the last of the evacuation orders Monday, allowing residents back into the Palisades and Eaton fire zones. Most areas are open only for residents, who are allowed to return during non-curfew hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. after getting an entry pass.
On Jan. 12, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to direct fast debris removal in the fire zones. He reiterated his push to speed up the recovery during a news conference Tuesday.
California joined with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday to send a letter to the EPA telling the agency they needed debris removed within the next 30 days, according to Newsom.
Nearly 2,000 California National Guard troops were still assigned to the fire zones to help with removing debris. “We will do whatever it takes to provide that support for the EPA,” Newsom said.
The EPA received Newsom’s letter and started cleaning hazardous debris Monday, according to spokeswoman Anna Drabek.
The agency has set up a hazardous debris collection site in each of the Palisades and Eaton fire zones.
“We’ve been preparing [the sites] to start receiving the materials, which started yesterday in both locations,” Drabek told The Epoch Times.
Many homes have damaged or destroyed lithium-ion batteries, battery energy storage systems, and electric or hybrid vehicles, she said.
The batteries should be considered “extremely dangerous, even if they look intact,” according to the agency’s news release Tuesday.
The agency can’t tell residents not to return to their property, even if toxic or hazardous debris still exists, but is encouraging residents to be cautious about the danger, she added.
“We just want folks to be aware of the risks they may be taking,” Drabek said.
The EPA encouraged residents to exercise extreme caution when returning to their properties and call their hotline at 1-833-798-7372 if they encounter a lithium-ion battery.
The agency was given $175 million for debris removal and a 60-day timeline to remove toxic and hazardous waste, according to Newsom.
The EPA plans to create a lithium-ion battery de-energizing and staging area, similar to what was created after the 2023 Maui wildfire.
“As part of the hazardous material removal work, U.S. EPA has also been tasked to safely remove batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles and home backup power supplies,” the agency wrote on a page dedicated to the L.A. fires.
The EPA is working with California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop a full inventory of properties that need hazardous material removal.
Other hazardous materials burned in the blaze include paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, herbicides, and pesticides, according to the EPA. Pressurized fuel cylinders, like propane tanks, could also pose a threat and will be removed by cleanup crews, the agency said.
Once these materials have been cleared on a property, the EPA will place a sign on the site indicating it is safe to enter.
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.
Reprinted with Permission from The Epoch Times – By Jill McLaughlin
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Gasoline powered cars and gas furnaces and heat pumps don’t cause the problems.
Just curious, with all of this toxic material to get rid of safely, WHERE WILL IT END UP?
It wasn’t broke but Fed.expert agencies had to fix it, they sure did, beyond repair. Everything they’ve created turned up a costly screw up, everything they touch ends toes up.
Exactly why “Green Energy” isn’t green. Come on baby, light my (lithium fueled) fire. Does California plan to remover the soil contaminated by the lithium? My guess is they will lie and say no, we’re all good here, go back to your home folks and don’t forget to replace those EV cars and solar panels with more lithium batteries.
My family lives in the Southern California desert region, near Palm Springs. My son is an auto mechanic at a Large dealership in the area. None of the mechanics want to work on the EVs. They are too dangerous because of the lithium batteries. They explode in the heat. In the summer our temperatures run in the 100’s for 3-5 months. That’s usually when the EV’s have the most problems. It’s a dangerous situation for those tasked with keeping them moving. We need to outlaw these terrible things before they contaminate our communities!
Watched a video that was taken from a neighbor’s home across the street from another nice home. The folks had taken their gas powered Mercedes into the dealer for routine maintenance and were given an electric Mercedes to drive. The video shows the brand new loaner sitting in the open garage, unplugged. A tiny bit of smoke starts from the car. Then more smoke, flames and literally within minutes the entire car was engulfed in flames. Then the house was on fire. The folks escaped unharmed but lost the home. Electric cars? Electric chairs!!
Wouldn’t trade my dependable 23 year old gas powered Toyota, Tacoma for anything. Electric cars can be forever linked to the “greenies” who apparently believe they know better…or maybe it was their way to “eliminate” a few more Americans.
Need to train all FD nationwide on Lithium Ion batteries alone
Uniform policy, plan for countering battery fires
Include EV makers, owners, renters
Just another example of how tree-hugging liberals create catastrophic outcomes for Americans. Don’t forget, the EV batteries are manufactured in…….CHINA.
Geothermal HVAC is the way to go if you want reduced utility bills and a greener solution. Upfront costs are higher but I’ve recouped my investment within 5 years.
If you have a fire at your house, the last things you need are solar panels on the roof and an EV in your garage.
I’m surprised that California doesn’t mandate an electric car battery disposal fee to cover the extra cost of extreme lithium fires, but making everyone else pay for their folly is California’s way to mandate green.
I have one word for EV’S: FRAUD!!
Ironically, despite California’s postulations about saving the environment, I bet it all ends up being dumped in the ocean! Out of sight, out of mind; if we don’t SEE the pollution, it doesn’t exist!
The Democrats think they are well-intentioned but they never think through things. The hazardous waste created from EV and solar far outweighs any so-called benefit to the environment and actually creates enormous new risks to mankind and the environment.
Their EV mandate can be compared to their sanctuary policies that appear well intentioned on the surface but in reality destroy the rights of American citizens. The Democrats do-gooders intentions are destroying us and must be harnessed………immediately.
EV’s The concept that isn’t viable!
Lithium ion waste,how do dispose of it without poisoning land and ground water?
Unintended consequences that the left doesn’t care about!! It seems that they lie about their concern for the planet, the environment but their actions say something else!!! Their real ambition is for money not to be able to claim that they fixed the environment!!! Hypocrites!!!!!
The stupidity of Newscum and leftist CA politicians is beyond belief! The toxic disaster left by burned lithium batteries and solar panels is a long term environmental disaster, that can create explosive chemical fires! Even if it does not burn, it has a 20 year useful life, It is not recyclable and there are no landfills that all this toxic debris can be buried in and remain safe, yet CA requires it in all new homes?? Forget Prop 95!
But they’re saving the planet!! C’mon,man!!! Has Newsome packed his bags yet?
those fires were melting aluminum thats in the hood of 1400′ this is crazy….anything that is left is of haz mat materials…..is SHOT…GONE…RECYCLED…..Give it up tree huggers !!!!
The article reads: “All new homes built in California since Jan. 1, 2020, are required to have solar panels, which also require the installation of lithium-ion batteries.”
Not true. Batteries (e.g. Tesla Wall) are optional in all solar panel installations.
How are those EV autos working out for you, Governor Nonsense, leftists, and environmentalists?
I bet your neighbors will be thrilled when your car blows up and starts the neighborhood on fire. The toxic fumes should get you a medal!! Idiot
I could live fine without cell phones and the lithium batteries they use.Could you?EV’s are the future,even if Democrats like them.