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Pacific Palisades, California. (March 3, 2025): When it comes to wildfires, the danger isn’t over when the flames go out. In this photo by Lance Corporal Jeslianne Torres, Corporal Cameron Bettencourt guides a winch to remove dangerous hazardous waste from the debris of a suburban home. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Northern Command deployed roughly 170 active-duty personnel to help contain and remove hazardous materials created by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

According to FEMA, the fires that broke out January 7^th killed twenty-nine people and burned over 37,000 acres. Over sixteen thousand structures were destroyed, mostly in urban areas, containing numerous sources of hazardous materials. Common household items, such as propane tanks, paints, automotive oils, herbicides, and pesticides are extremely toxic when burned. Of particular concern are lithium-ion batteries from electric and hybrid vehicles. These batteries can spontaneously re-ignite and explode emitting toxic gases and particulates into the atmosphere. Burning certain materials like plastics, treated wood, and electronics releases harmful chemicals like dioxins, benzene, and heavy metals that are linked to cancer. Also, ash from the fires can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater.