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 7th 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.
Inhaling smoke from the fires can cause respiratory issues, irritate the eyes and lungs, and may lead to long-term health problems. This is especially so for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
In this unprecedented disaster, America has turned to its military chemical experts to collect, package, and remove hazardous waste from thousands of homesites. Soldiers from the 172nd and 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) deployed from nineteen bases in sixteen states to join the Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support group. These troops will continue to risk their lives to contain and remove these dangers long after the fires have gone out.