In Los Angeles (LA), California, ravaged by wildfires, recovery efforts have officially begun. Residents who were evacuated due to the more than 20 days of wildfires wish to return home as soon as possible, but it is expected to take over a year just to clear the debris.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 3rd (local time), workers in protective gear began clearing debris from approximately 12,000 dwellings that were completely burned down by wildfires starting last week. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are each responsible for hazardous material removal and debris clearing and site restoration.
EPA workers are prioritizing the removal of visible hazardous waste, such as batteries, pesticides, and paint cans. This task takes several hours per dwelling, and it is expected to take about 30 days to remove hazardous waste from the entire affected area.
Steve Calanog, deputy commander of the EPA's Southern California wildfires division, noted that the removal of hazardous waste requires high safety measures and is carried out with qualified workers. Due to the hazardous nature of the waste, affected homeowners are unable to perform this task themselves and do not have the right to opt out.
Lithium-ion batteries are particularly becoming a major obstacle in the recovery efforts. These batteries are high-density energy storage devices that power electric vehicles, bicycles, laptops, and cell phones. However, their damage from the wildfires has increased the risk of fire.
Calanog specified, "When lithium batteries are exposed to intense heat and flames, they can spontaneously ignite or explode anywhere from a few days to several months later," explaining that the debris cleanup in the LA area is the largest lithium battery removal project to date. EPA staff are collecting lithium batteries, soaking them in saltwater to stabilize them, and then dismantling them for disposal to prevent fires.
After the EPA's hazardous waste collection is complete, workers contracted by the USACE will remove ash, charred wood, damaged building foundations, and other debris. They are expected to collect more than 4.25 million tons of debris from thousands of buildings, and all work will be done free of charge.
Colonel Eric Swenson, leading the USACE in Southern California, said it typically takes 2 to 4 days to clear smaller dwelling sites. Clearing larger dwellings or those on steep hills requiring special equipment may take over 10 days.
It is expected to take up to 18 months to complete the two-stage debris processing operation. Colonel Swenson estimated that 80% of the sites will be cleared within a year, with the remainder completed within 18 months.
LA residents are becoming increasingly discouraged as they expect the recovery efforts to take a long time. Kimberly Bloom, 65, who is staying in a studio apartment about 10 miles south of Pacific Palisades, complained that "government agencies are taking too long to get things done."
Bloom's housing insurance will only cover rent for up to 2 years. She believes that if it takes 18 months just to clear the debris, there is no likelihood of rebuilding her home within 2 years.
Ultimately, some residents began clearing debris themselves. NYT reported that "under the emergency order from the LA County Health Department on the 15th of last month, fire cleanup was prohibited until officials could check for hazardous materials," adding, "Some residents were clearing their dwelling sites last Thursday even before the EPA inspection."