Crews clean up hazardous materials in wildfire-ravaged Altadena

Record ID: 1954556

  • Title: Crews clean up hazardous materials in wildfire-ravaged Altadena
  • Date: 31st January 2025
  • Summary: ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 30, 2025) (REUTERS) 360 DEGREE DRONE VIEW OF ALTADENA BURN AREA (MUTE) COLLECTED PAINT AND PROPANE CANS LINED UP WITH CREW WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF CREW SORTING THROUGH THE DEBRIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARRY ALLEN, FEDERAL ON SCENE COORDINATOR WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (22 YEARS), SAYING: “We want
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2025 01:43
  • Keywords: ALTADENA CALIFORNIA CLEAN UP EATON FIRE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY EPA WILDFIRES
  • Location: ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,North America,Wildfires/Forest Fires
  • Reuters ID: LVA001754130012025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Crews with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began sifting through the rubble of the devastating Eaton fire in Altadena, California on Thursday (January 30), looking to clear potentially dangerous and hazardous materials from ash-covered lots flattened by the wildfire.
    Workers in white hazmat suits, hard hats, and other protective gear rummaged through the rubble of burned-out homes, plucking out paint cans and batteries by hand.
    According to 22-year EPA veteran and on-site coordinator Harry Allen, the task is one of the biggest and most complex jobs the agency has ever seen.
    “It's certainly the biggest job I think we've encountered. With the number of personnel we need to complete the mission, the deadlines we've been asked to meet, and the types of materials, that should be the largest we've worked on,” Allen told Reuters.
    The crew is made up of 200 members in teams of 6-10 members. So far, they have processed nine land parcels, with that number expected to climb as more crew members join the workforce in the coming officials said.
    Key to the clean-up efforts is the lithium-ion batteries found in power tools, toys, and cars.
    “We're taking great pains to make sure that potentially damaged lithium-ion batteries are removed,” Allen said.
    The EPA is running the initial phase of cleanup before government or private contractors come in with heavy equipment to clear entire lots. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week, in conjunction with his visit to Los Angeles, directing the EPA to complete the removal of hazardous materials “as soon as practical.” The Trump administration gave EPA a deadline of Feb. 25.
    “The pressure’s here. 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,” Allen said.
    (Production: Sandra Stojanovic, Jorge Garcia)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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