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A sunset at Santa Monica Beach, the pier in the background, fire debris on the sand.

02.20.25

Post-Fire Cleanup FAQs and How To Get Involved

Post-fire Cleanup

California state and federal leadership declared a state of emergency at the onset of the fires and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was tasked to fund and coordinate a phased system of debris removal with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers). FEMA, EPA, and USACE are the primary federal agencies working in coordination with various state departments, the County of Los Angeles, and city representatives. Tap here for the EPA 2025 SoCal Wildfire Response.

What Does This Federal Cleanup Process Entail?

Phase 1: The EPA and DTSC (Department of Toxic Substances Control) work in widespread crews to remove burned household hazardous waste (HHW) – including lithium ion batteries – which pose a significant safety risk and are present in large concentrations in the footprints of both the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

Phase 2: After the phase 1 HHW removal is completed at each individual property, the USACE follows behind, removing fire debris and excavating six inches of potentially contaminated topsoil with heavy machinery. Properties deemed structurally unsafe for crews to complete Phase 1 HHW removal are deferred to Phase 2. 

Black ash and fire debris on the sand.
Fire debris on Santa Monica Beach, February 15, 2025

How Toxic Is the Fire Debris?

Very toxic! Some toxins present in smoke and ash include:

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein, and toluene
  • Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium
  • Asbestos 
  • Nitrogen and Phosphorous

All of these toxins are released into the environment when construction materials, plastic, furniture, paint, landscaping chemicals, common household items, and automobiles are burned. Furthermore, lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles and home energy storage systems risk explosion or catching fire after exposure to fire and/or water.

This toxic debris, when left exposed on burned properties, is subject to wind dispersal, soil accumulation, and/or rain runoff – all of which pose the greatest threat to the health and safety of our coastline and environment. Thus, a swift and diligent cleanup process is essential to minimizing this threat.

How Is Household Hazardous Waste on Burned Properties Being Processed and Disposed Of?

Phase 1 hazardous household waste (HHW) is being processed at several temporary staging areas for both the Palisades and Eaton fires, including:

HHW items are collected from the burned properties, bagged on-site, and then transported to the closest staging area. They are then sorted, placed in containers, and transported for disposal at permitted HHW facilities for each material. Lithium ion batteries are de-energized and crushed before being packaged and transported for recycling or disposal.

EPA sorting site under a white tent.
Tap here to learn more about staging areas. Photo: EPA

How Were the Temporary Staging Sites Chosen?

According to the EPA, the sites were chosen from “over 50” considerations based on the criteria of availability, acreage, topography, and proximity to the work/burn zone. EPA spokespeople have noted that lack of availability (some sites were either fully occupied by first-response crews, not authorized by property owners, and/or needed extensive debris removal before work could commence) was the key issue in securing otherwise ideal sites. As confirmed in a town hall meeting February 11th, an adequate number of sites have now been authorized and leased from CA State and County Parks, so the EPA is no longer pursuing additional staging sites.

When Will This Debris Removal Be Finished?

Over 16,000 structures have been damaged in the Palisades and Eaton fires with an estimated 4,250,000 tons of structural ash, metal, debris, soil, and foundations to be cleared (not including automobiles or trees). Since January 28th, there are over 1,000 crew members tasked to complete HHW collection from properties by the end of February. After that point, EPA spokespeople have estimated a total of 60-90 days to sort, package, and then dismantle the sites.

Phase 2 debris removal can take two to 10 days per property after Phase 1 is complete according to Col. Eric Swenson of the Army Corps of Engineers. Property owners have until March 31st to opt-in to the USACE debris removal service, while some property owners may choose privately contracted debris removal. With that, the end date is unknown, but hopeful estimates have been a minimum of one to two years.

Barrels at EPA staging site.Tap here to learn more about staging areas. Photo: EPA

Our Concerns and Progress

We spoke and met with concerned members of the community who live, work, and recreate in both the Palisades and Eaton fire burn areas. We voiced and amplified these concerns in a letter (replicated at bottom of blog) and submitted it to the EPA. We demanded transparency, community input, and sufficient management practices to ensure that there is no further impact to the environment while containing these hazardous materials.

In the days that followed, many of our concerns, although not all, were addressed by the EPA/FEMA/USACE authorities.

Concern: Initial Lack of Transparency and Community Input With Staging Site Selection

Progress: 

  • EPA/FEMA/USACE information officers joined several townhalls and arranged site visits with both officials and community leaders, maintaining an ongoing effort to be accessible.
  • An Indigenous cultural monitor was consulted via CA State Parks at the Topanga site.
  • Live hotline is active and available (833-798-7372).

Concern: Impacts to Ecologically Sensitive Topanga Creek/Lagoon/Beach Due To Unmonitored Mitigation Practices and Impending Risks Including Flooding and Landslides

Progress:

  • Lithium ion battery processing station located adjacent to a burned hillside at Topanga creek was removed/relocated from the staging site prior to heavy rainfall. 
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent toxic material from escaping the staging site have been implemented.
  • All HHW items collected are bagged and tied at the properties where they are collected before being transported to any staging site.

Concern: Testing Standards and Accessibility of Data

Progress:

  • Onsite air quality monitoring data and pre/post site soil testing data is provided to each staging site owner (CA Parks and LA County Parks).

Ongoing Concerns:

Get Involved

Contact your officials!

We can all contact our LA City, County, and state reps and ask them to do more to protect the health of our communities and our environment. Demand action to/for:

1. Authorize special access for local agencies and other local experts to sample and test water, sand, or soil at staging sites.
2. The County of Los Angeles Public Department of Public health to provide ocean and soil testing data to the public as it pertains to the fire-related contamination in an accessible format.
3. Address shoreline remediation and create a strategy to effectively and quickly remove burned debris from the shoreline.
4. Fill the unprecedented gap in USACE soil testing at properties after Phase 2 debris removal to ensure contaminants are removed from the affected neighborhoods and communities entirely before rebuilding.

County, state, and city officials:

County Board of Supervisors:
HOLLY J. MITCHELL - Second District - HollyJMitchell@bos.lacounty.gov - 213-974-2222
LINDSEY P. HORVATH - Third District - ThirdDistrict@bos.lacounty.gov - 213-974-3333
KATHRYN BARGER - Fifth district - kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov - 213-974-5555

Office of Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass
General comment form - 213-978-1028
RYAN JACKSON - Director of Public Works - 213-978-0521
NANCY SUTLEY - Deputy Mayor LA City Energy and Sustainability Department - 213-926-3788

32nd District Congressman- BRAD SHERMAN- 818-501-9200

County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT - tox@ph.lacounty.gov - 626-430-5201

Santa Monica City Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Environment@smgov.net - 310-458-2213

Malibu City Environmental Sustainability Department
YOLANDA BUNDY- YBundy@malibucity.org - 310-456-2489
SOLISHIA ANDICO- SAndico@malibucity.org - 310-456-2489

Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors
info@bh.lacounty.gov - 424-526-7777

Sign Community Petitions!

You can also sign these petitions to have your voice heard:

Beach Cleanups! 

We will begin resuming public beach cleanups at open and accessible beaches where LA Public Department Health advisories have been lifted. We are currently working with beach maintenance crews to understand the best methods and protections required for volunteers to clean the beach safely. Stay tuned for updates at our event page and @Surfriderla on Instagram.

Our commitment

Cleaning up after an urban fire of such magnitude leaves no easy task nor choices. In this unprecedented circumstance, risk cannot be avoided, only mitigated. Surfrider remains committed to advocating for safe communities and neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles and clean a ocean, waves, and beaches for generations to come. We deeply thank and stand with our communities that have been vocal, informed, and steadfast in making sure the task of post-fire cleanup is executed both swiftly and thoughtfully to protect what we all love and enjoy.

------

Our letter to the EPA:

February 4, 2025
To: Steve Calanog and Rusty Harris-Bishop
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)
Via email: Calanog.steve@epa.gov, harris-bishop.rusty@epa.gov

Re: Palisades Fire Cleanup – Site Selection and Environmental Protections

Dear Mr. Calanog and Mr. Harris-Bishop,

On behalf of the Surfrider Foundation (“Surfrider”) Los Angeles Chapter, I would like to acknowledge and appreciate the EPA’s ongoing efforts to clean up the devastation caused by the Palisades Fire.

However, we have serious concerns regarding the environmental and public
health impacts of the selected cleanup staging site located at Topanga Canyon and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The site’s proximity to Topanga Creek, which flows directly into the Pacific Ocean at a vital and ecologically significant coastal area, raises concerns about the potential for contamination of sensitive waterways and habitats.

Surfrider is deeply concerned about the public and environmental health risks posed by the site. Therefore, it is critical that the EPA ensure transparency with members of the public and provide assurances that the cleanup process will not inadvertently cause further environmental damage. Below are some concerns we have regarding the selected site and the measures in place to address them.

Site Selection

Surfrider and the local community are concerned about the EPA’s selection of a site immediately adjacent to Topanga Creek and the Pacific Ocean. Utilizing this site could pose significant environmental risks, including runoff and contamination.

We are also concerned about why alternative sites, including those closer to the burn areas and farther away from sensitive waterways and ecosystems, were not seriously considered in the selection process. We understand from the Malibu Town Hall presentation on February 3, that FEMA and EPA are still pursuing alternative staging sites, including at the Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot, and request that prompt information be shared with the public with respect to the consideration and selection of alternative staging sites.

Additionally, we request that the announcement of the final destination of waste and the potential associated travel routes be provided as soon as this information becomes available, to ensure transparency and allow for proper community input. 

Adequacy of Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Surfrider and the local community expects that several essential Best Management Practices (“BMPs”) be implemented to mitigate potential risks, including, but not limited to, the following:

● A continuous ring of wattles around the entire fenced perimeter of the site to control runoff.
● Covering of stockpile areas to prevent rainwater infiltration and material washout.
● Utilizing a secure and enclosed tent rather than simply using a “canopy” that could be subject to wind, rainwater, and flooding, to cover hazardous materials.
● Installation of shaker bars at all entrance and exit points to prevent debris from being tracked off-site.
● Enhanced protections on the creek-facing side of the site to reduce the risk of
contamination entering the waterway.
● Any other measures to ensure that rainfall does not exacerbate contamination of soil, water, or air from runoff from the site.

Surfrider understands the urgency of undertaking cleanup efforts as quickly as possible, but we seek assurance that, given the site’s proximity to sensitive ecosystems, the EPA will undertake daily monitoring and provide immediate responses to concerns raised herein or by other members of the public. We also request the inclusion of community leaders in site visits and oversight processes to ensure that these measures are being properly implemented and monitored, allowing for transparency, accountability, and the active involvement of local stakeholders in safeguarding the environment.

Monitoring and Compliance

Surfrider is also concerned about the adequacy of monitoring and testing of the site. There are significant risks for contamination of the environment, including the ocean and groundwater, and ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure the site is being managed in a way that prevents harm to the environment. Specific concerns include, but are not limited to, the following:

● How is the site’s compliance with BMPs being ensured and monitored?
● What soil testing is being conducted both pre- and post-project, and will that data be made accessible to the public? Relatedly, will the 24 hour per day air quality monitoring results be made available to the public in real time?
● What measures are in place to respond to contamination levels that exceed safety thresholds, and what actions will be taken in the event of flooding?
● How can the public access a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”) or a BMP summary document outlining the measures in place?

Accountability and Transparency

Finally, we appreciate your presence and the thorough answers provided to the public during the Malibu City Townhall on February 3. We encourage continued transparent communication moving forward. Ensuring transparency is crucial to protecting public health and the environment throughout the cleanup process. We trust the EPA is conducting this work with professionalism, and we are here to support these efforts. We kindly request clear and consistent updates to keep the public informed and engaged. We respectfully request that the EPA provide clear responses to the concerns outlined above and that ongoing communication with the community be prioritized.

Please direct your response to eermacora@surfriderla.org. Thank you for your prompt attention and for ensuring the ongoing protection of public and environmental health.

Sincerely,

Eugenia Ermacora
Chapter Manager
Surfrider Foundation Los Angeles