[ExI] Los Angeles Fires - Unintended Consequences

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‘Unprecedented' number of lithium ion batteries complicates LA wildfires cleanup

EVs, laptops, cellphones and many other common items that use lithium
ion batteries were left behind as residents evacuated during the Eaton
Fire and Palisades Fire.
By Jonathan Lloyd • Published January 29, 2025

<https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california-wildfires/la-fires-lithium-ion-batteries/3617981/>
Quotes:
What authorities described as one of the largest lithium-ion battery
cleanups ever is underway in Los Angeles County neighborhoods
destroyed by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The batteries are a major challenge in the early stages of the debris
removal process after two of the most destructive wildfires on record
in California. They power plug-in hybrid cars and EVs, many of which
were destroyed by flames in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. They're
also are found in laptops, cellphones and other items left behind as
residents evacuated neighborhoods overrun by flames after the fires
started Jan. 7 in an extreme Santa Ana windstorm.

"This will be… from our estimation, probably the largest lithium-ion
battery pickup, cleanup, that’s ever happened in the history of the
world," said Steve Calanog, the Environmental Protection Agency’s
incident commander for the Palisades and Eaton fire cleanups.

The batteries are one major reason there are stringent U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency requirements that are prioritized in
the post-wildfire cleanup process.

Hazardous materials teams inspect homes and flag those with
lithium-ion batteries, many of which were not entirely consumed by the
fire and require expertise in handling. A battery recovery team then
leads the effort to collect the batteries. Removing the batteries
requires "technical sophistication and care," Canalog said.

EPA team members wear fire-resistant clothes under protective suits,
masks and other protection.
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