EPA completes phrase one of Los Angeles wildfire cleanup ahead of deadline
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it has completed the first phase of the Los Angeles wildfire cleanup, ahead of its deadline.
“President Trump set an extremely ambitious deadline for EPA to clean up all hazardous materials in the wake of the deadly California wildfires,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement. “Thanks to his leadership and the hard work of countless personnel in the field, we got it done in record time.”
The multiple fires in the Hollywood area of California, the largest in state history, were finally contained on Jan. 31.
The Palisades Fire broke out on Jan. 7 and burned over 23,000 acres, flattening thousands of homes. The Eaton Fire burned just over 14,000 acres and similarly destroyed thousands of structures.
The fires ravaged entire neighborhoods and left thousands without homes.
While the fires were still being extinguished, federal aid was being negotiated.
President Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) exchanged in a back-and-forth as the president claimed aid would only be heading to the state with conditions.
In its release, the EPA said it partnered with the military and Department of Homeland Security to develop a response plan to the fires.
Crews cleared hazardous materials from thousands of properties and allowed for debris to be removed and other recovery efforts to begin, the EPA said.
The EPA said the next phase of the recovery plan will be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“FEMA assigned EPA the first phase of the overall recovery and cleanup: to survey, remove, and dispose of hazardous materials and to remove lithium-ion batteries,” the EPA said. “This work, conducted at no cost to residents, ensured the safety of residents and the workers who will … undertake Phase 2 of the post-fire recovery.”
Topics
-
Los Angeles removes fire chief in wake of massive wildfires
Los Angeles Fire Chef Kristin Crowley has been removed from her position by Mayor Karen Bass after wildfires that killed dozens and destroyed hundreds of homes.ABC News - 5d -
Los Angeles Mayor removes fire chief over wildfires handling
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has removed Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and alleged that her response to the wildfires that devoured parts of Los Angeles County was mishandled. CBS News' ...CBS News - 5d -
Newsom requests nearly $40 billion in disaster aid following Los Angeles wildfires
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) sent a letter to members of Congress requesting nearly $40 billion in funding to rebuild communities after wildfires devastated the Pacific Palisades and Altadena ...The Hill - 3d -
California Gov. Gavin Newsom asks Congress for nearly $40 billion for Los Angeles wildfire relief
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from January’s devastating wildfires, which he said ...NBC News - 3d -
Los Angeles mayor removes fire department chief
Mayor Karen Bass has removed Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley after weeks of a public rift. Bass has criticized Crowley for a lack of preparation and mishandling the city's ...CBS News - 4d -
Super Micro shares fall ahead of filing deadline
If Super Micro fails to file the reports, its stock could be delisted from Nasdaq.CNBC - 1d -
Our guide for what to see during Frieze Los Angeles
It's the sun in the middle of L.A. art week's solar system. Here are our favorite exhibitions and events happening at Frieze and beyond.Los Angeles Times - Feb. 18 -
A$AP Rocky found not guilty in assault trial in Los Angeles
A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty of two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm Tuesday following a nearly month-long trial in downtown Los Angeles.CBS News - Feb. 18 -
WATCH: Los Angeles public schools begin ban on cellphones
The Los Angeles Unified School District's ban also includes smart watches and glasses, and some parents are critical of the new rule.ABC News - Feb. 19
More from The Hill
-
Trump administration goes to Supreme Court to stave off midnight deadline to unfreeze foreign aid
The Justice Department filed an emergency application at the Supreme Court Wednesday asking to block a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2 billion in blocked ...The Hill - 22m -
Greene threatens criminal referrals at House DOGE hearing
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), threatened to make criminal referrals during a hearing on foreign ...The Hill - 54m -
DOJ doubles down on Supreme Court intervening in Trump firing case
The Justice Department doubled down on its demand that the Supreme Court step in to greenlight President Trump’s firing of a government whistleblower office head, warning in a Wednesday letter that ...The Hill - 1h -
VA reverses course, halts contract cancellations after pressure from Congress
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Wednesday paused an effort to terminate hundreds of contracts after pressure from Democrat lawmakers, according to Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee ...The Hill - 1h -
Johnson says deal to avert shutdown will probably be 'clean,' without DOGE cuts
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Wednesday that a stopgap to avert a government shutdown next month is “becoming inevitable” and that it will probably be as “clean” as possible, as both sides ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Congresswoman votes for bill with newborn in arms after proxy vote ban
They call it the House, but it's no place like home -- at least not for young mothers. Scott MacFarlane shows how Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Colorado Democrat, made the point with a tiny bundle of ...CBS News - 17m -
Trump administration goes to Supreme Court to stave off midnight deadline to unfreeze foreign aid
The Justice Department filed an emergency application at the Supreme Court Wednesday asking to block a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2 billion in blocked ...The Hill - 22m -
How a conspiracy theory on missing gold at Fort Knox spread to the White House
NBC News’ Steven Romo reports on how a conspiracy theory about missing gold at Fort Knox spread to the White House. The federal facility holds half of the country’s gold and has only been opened ...NBC News - 37m -
U.S. carries out strike against Al-Qaeda affiliate leader in Syria, officials say
According to two U.S. officials, the U.S. carried out a strike against a senior leader of an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in Syria. NBC News’ Courtney Kube reports.NBC News - 38m -
Greene threatens criminal referrals at House DOGE hearing
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), threatened to make criminal referrals during a hearing on foreign ...The Hill - 54m