California wildfires left behind 9 billion pounds of toxic ash and debris | 60 Minutes

Summary

After wildfires devastated neighborhoods in Los Angeles, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led the swift removal of hazardous debris from 9,000 properties. Despite this, many residents, including those with homes still intact, remain fearful of returning due to lingering toxic waste and dangerous electric vehicle batteries. The cleanup has been complex, with numerous challenges such as toxic ash, lead, and arsenic contamination. Some residents, like Lynn McIntyre, have spent thousands on testing and discovered dangerous toxins in their homes, but insurance companies deny coverage, leaving many uncertain about their safety and the long road to recovery.

Takeaways

• 😀 A series of wildfires in Los Angeles destroyed 11,000 homes and 37,000 acres, affecting Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods.
• 😀 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed the fastest hazardous debris removal in its history, clearing over 9,000 properties in just 28 days.
• 😀 Despite the fast cleanup, many residents, even those with homes still intact, feel unsafe returning due to lingering hazardous materials.
• 😀 Some properties, like Lynn McIntyre's 1940s home, survived the wildfire, but the intense heat still affected the structure and left it unsafe due to toxic debris.
• 😀 Strong winds from the fire pushed toxic ash and soot into the homes that survived, contaminating them with harmful materials.
• 😀 The EPA identified and removed hazardous materials, including propane tanks, paint cans, and cleaning supplies, but electric vehicles (EVs) posed a new challenge in the cleanup process.
• 😀 Lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) present a unique danger, as they can explode or reignite when damaged, requiring special handling and extraction.
• 😀 Extraction of damaged EV batteries from the wreckage can take up to two hours and involves heavy machinery to avoid dangerous reactions.
• 😀 Damaged batteries are placed in saltwater baths to dissipate any trapped energy and reduce the risk of ignition.
• 😀 Some of the waste generated by damaged EV batteries cannot be effectively recycled due to contamination, resulting in the material being buried in landfills in Utah and Arizona.
• 😀 The cleanup process has removed around 9 billion pounds of debris, and six inches of soil is being excavated from properties to remove contamination, though some question whether this is enough to ensure safety.
• 😀 Residents, like Matthew Craig in Altadena, are concerned about toxins such as lead, asbestos, and pesticide residue, even in homes that survived the fire.
• 😀 Lynn McIntyre, whose home was spared, paid out of pocket to have her home tested for toxins, finding arsenic and lead levels much higher than safe limits, yet her insurance refused to cover cleanup costs.

Q & A

What were the main consequences of the wildfires in Los Angeles?

The wildfires destroyed over 11,000 homes and 37,000 acres of land in Los Angeles, leaving neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades and Altadena in ruins. Many houses were reduced to ashes, while others faced significant damage from toxic debris and ash.

How did the EPA speed up the debris removal process after the wildfires?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleared more than 9,000 properties in just 28 days, marking the fastest hazardous debris removal in its history. This was achieved through rapid and systematic removal of hazardous materials such as propane tanks, cleaning supplies, and paint cans.

Why was the cleanup of electric vehicle (EV) batteries so challenging?

The cleanup of EV batteries was complicated because lithium-ion batteries can explode or reignite when damaged. Identifying EVs in the debris was also difficult due to the variety of battery-powered vehicles, including hybrids and electric vehicles. Even when intact, these batteries can be highly volatile, requiring specialized care during removal.

What special precautions did the EPA take when handling damaged EV batteries?

The EPA treated damaged EV batteries like live grenades due to the risk of explosion or toxic emissions. They employed a meticulous process, using heavy machinery to remove the batteries, which were then placed in steel drums and soaked in saltwater for three days to dissipate trapped energy and reduce the risk of fire.

How did the EPA dispose of the hazardous battery waste?

The damaged EV batteries and other hazardous materials were transported to Utah, where they were buried in landfills that accept hazardous waste. This was necessary due to California’s limited number of certified landfills that can handle such waste.

What is the process for removing debris from fire-destroyed properties?

The Army Corps of Engineers, tasked by FEMA, is removing debris from over 13,000 properties. This includes removing everything from concrete foundations to furniture. The removal process typically takes one to four days for a standard property, but it can take longer for difficult terrain.

Why does the government only remove six inches of soil from fire-damaged areas?

The government removes six inches of soil because deeper excavation could uncover contaminants, like lead pipes, which could economically disadvantage property owners who would then need to replace additional soil. The six-inch depth has been deemed sufficient to eliminate most contaminants without unnecessary disruption.

What concerns does California Governor Gavin Newsom have regarding the cleanup?

Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed concerns that removing only six inches of soil might not be enough to address potential toxic contamination. His office requested that FEMA test for deeper contamination, as they have done in previous wildfire cleanup efforts.

What challenges have residents like Lynn McIntyre faced in the aftermath of the wildfires?

Lynn McIntyre, whose house was spared by the fire, has struggled with a lack of clear guidance on safety standards for returning to homes. She faced difficulties in understanding what tests to conduct and who to contact for remediation, ultimately paying out-of-pocket for toxic tests that revealed arsenic and lead levels far exceeding safe limits.

What does Matthew Craig's experience reveal about the risks of returning to fire-damaged homes?

Matthew Craig’s home was filled with toxic dust from the wildfires, including lead, asbestos, and chemicals from exploded EV batteries. Despite his house looking fine on the outside, he found that the inside was dangerously contaminated, making him hesitant to return fully until his home is tested and cleaned for toxins.