August 27, 2021 - Beginning in August 2021, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) mobilized resources at the direction of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for emergency Phase 1 cleanup operations to remove Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) from properties impacted by six wildfires this year.

As northern California faces unprecedented wildfire activity, DTSC is currently working with local governments and state agencies to protect the public by removing HHW such as lead-acid and household batteries; compressed gas cylinders; bulk pesticides, fertilizers, and pool chemicals; paints, thinners, and aerosol cans; asbestos siding, pipe insulation, and tiles.

Below, Cal OES is providing an update on the work being done to clear HHW from homes impacted by the following fires:

Beckwourth Fire (Lassen and Plumas Counties)

• DTSC completed HHW removal on 144 parcels in Lassen and Plumas counties

Cache Fire (Lake County)

• DTSC mobilized on August 25 for HHW assessments on 61 structures in Lake County

DTSC crews work to remove batteries from fire-damaged boats in Lake County

Household hazardous waste being removed from fire-ravaged properties following the Cache Fire

Dixie Fire (Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama Counties)

• On August 24, DTSC began HHW removal in Plumas County. So far, assessments have begun in 53 of 1,269 structures
• Work will be completed once it’s safe to assess all destroyed structures, including those in Butte, Lassen and Tehama counties

Household hazardous waste being removed in Plumas County

DTSC crews work to remove household hazardous waste from a property in Plumas County

Lava Fire (Siskiyou County)

• DTSC is continuing to coordinate with Siskiyou County and the impacted community to begin HHW assessments in September 2021

River Fire (Placer and Nevada Counties)

• Cal OES and DTSC are actively coordinating with Placer and Nevada counties to begin HHW assessments soon

Tamarack Fire (Alpine County)

• HHW work completed on August 6

The public can track the progress of statewide wildfire hazardous waste cleanup on a real-time dashboard mapping system. Information will be uploaded as soon as it becomes available.

Additional information on the Cal OES Statewide Debris Removal Program can be found here.

More information regarding DTSC’s emergency response to wildfires and management of hazardous waste can be found here.
Source: Cal OES