Now that the devastating Los Angeles wildfires have been 100% contained, the painful process of cleanup has begun. Just like fighting the fires faced challenges posed by the geography and climate, the cleanup also must navigate a unique landscape.

In this case, the large number of lithium-ion batteries present on the sites of burned-out homes requires a dedicated cleanup.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to survey, remove and dispose of hazardous materials from properties burned by the wildfires in Phase 1 of the federal government’s cleanup.

The effort is already underway and is being conducted at no cost to homeowners. The EPA is targeting such hazardous materials as paint, cleaners, solvents, oils, pesticides, fuel and asbestos.

Lithium-ion batteries are also targeted for removal. The EPA will recover, safely transport, “de-energize” and dispose of the batteries.

The batteries are used in a variety of devices, including power tools, electric bikes, drones, laptops and tablets and a variety of other consumer electronics. The largest lithium-ion batteries are in electric vehicles and home battery storage systems.

According to the news source CalMatters, California leads the nation in EV sales, with more than 2 million. Concerning the two areas where the cleanup is underway, NBC News reports that there were more than 700 newly registered zero-emission vehicles in Pacific Palisades in 2024, and more than 400 in Altadena.

Additionally, California is the nation’s leader in residential solar panel installations, and many of the panels are tied to home storage systems that incorporate lithium-ion batteries.

The batteries pose a unique hazard in the burned areas. The EPA warns that the batteries should be considered extremely dangerous. They can re-ignite, explode and emit toxic fumes “even after fire has been extinguished.”

Cleanup crews are moving quickly. They have been given a Feb. 25 deadline to finish the Phase 1 cleanup.