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Friday, January 24, 2025

EPA To Begin Hazmat Removal At 614 Eaton Canyon Fire Sites in Pasadena

STAFF REPORT

Federal officials outline two-phase cleanup strategy as assessment begins for fire-damaged properties across Pasadena

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has completed initial assessments of 614 Pasadena parcels damaged in the recent Eaton Canyon Fire, with hazardous materials removal set to begin Monday as part of a comprehensive cleanup strategy across Pasadena and Altadena.

The information came to light during a Thursday special meeting of the Pasadena City Council. The Council discussion focused on actions set to occur in Pasadena, not in Altadena, which faces substantially greater losses.

“As of this morning, there’s 614 parcels that have been reconned as it relates to the Eaton fire,” said Israel Del Toro, Deputy Director with Pasadena’s Planning Community Development Department. “The EPA currently has 35 staff members and contractors out there completing this task, and they’re continuing to ramp up on that process.”

The Council heard that cleanup will proceed in two phases, beginning with EPA-led hazardous waste removal from residential properties.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers will conduct broader debris removal in phase two, expected to start within two months, which will include knocking down remnant walls and handling larger debris.

Teams will first assess each site to ensure safety before removing hazardous materials including propane tanks, cylinders, and batteries.

Due to the fire’s intense heat, officials expect to find few liquid hazardous materials. The items will be collected by hand and transported via stake bed trucks to a staging area in Irwindale for proper disposal.

Special protocols are in place for electric vehicles and power walls damaged in the fire. The EPA will remove lithium-ion batteries using marine blankets and fire blankets during transport before de-energizing them in a brine bath at the staging facility.

Between 300-500 personnel will continue long-term restoration work over the next two to four weeks.

The EPA has deployed community involvement coordinators and established an 800-number which is 1-800-621-3362 hotline for property owners’ questions.

The agency also maintains procedures for cataloging and returning personal items found during cleanup, from gun lockers to wedding rings.

Property owners can expedite the vehicle removal process by having their insurance companies or private contractors remove damaged vehicles for adjudication claims.

EPA officials plan to participate in town halls to answer community questions about the cleanup process.

The agency has established a website at epa.gov/ca/2025-california-wildfires to track cleanup progress and provide public updates, including maps showing which properties have been cleared.

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