LA Residents Face New Challenges After Wildfire Cleanup: Tackling Toxic Waste and Environmental Hazards

Ceci Carroll lives near a rock-mining company that has left her community in the San Gabriel Valley with air filled with dust. With the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, she now has a new worry: a site set to process hazardous debris from the Eaton Fire.

“My main concern is for our community and the local schools, especially with so many kids around,” said Carroll, who has lived in Duarte for 23 years and previously served on the school board. “The presence of chemicals and hazardous materials here is alarming. Parents are understandably anxious.”

Carroll is part of a group of residents from Duarte, Azusa, and surrounding areas who oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to use Lario Park in Irwindale as a temporary site for hazardous waste from the Eaton Fire. This park, typically enjoyed for picnics, biking, and horseback riding, has become a focal point of concern due to the potential for toxic waste affecting the air and groundwater.

The fires, which started on January 7, destroyed many buildings, vehicles, and electronic devices. Now the EPA is working to remove hundreds of tons of hazardous materials, including paints, solvents, and batteries, all of which can become harmful when burned.

“We need to make sure that dealing with this hazardous waste doesn’t create an even bigger problem for communities that already face pollution issues,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Many of the nearby communities, largely Latino, already deal with high levels of ozone and particulate pollution, according to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. This raises the stakes for residents concerned about the new waste processing site.

During a town hall meeting, state officials faced intense questioning from residents, including California Senator Susan Rubio. People wanted to know how the site was chosen, why they weren’t consulted, and why toxic waste was being trucked 15 miles from the fire zone. The crowd, numbering in the hundreds, expressed their frustrations with chants like “Shut it down!”

EPA coordinator Tara Fitzgerald explained that closer sites were already being used for emergency operations. She emphasized the agency has handled similar situations before, citing the Woolsey and Napa fires without negative community impacts.

However, the scale of the Eaton and Palisades fires is unprecedented, burning more urban area than any previous California fire.

The EPA assures residents that several safety measures will be implemented, such as monitoring air quality, sampling soil, and controlling dust with water trucks. The site will not be used for more than six months, and the waste will be transported daily on surface streets to minimize risks.

Experts agree that with proper precautions, the threat of groundwater contamination is low. “Several feet of soil between the pollutants and the groundwater limits the speed at which toxins could migrate,” explained Sanjay Mohanty, a UCLA associate professor. However, he noted that air quality could still be affected by dust from the site.

Residents like Laura Jasso left the meeting feeling unsettled. “It’s hard to trust when we feel like decisions have been made without our input,” she said.

As work continues, experts advise residents to stay informed about what’s happening, including how hazardous materials are handled and what safety protocols are in place. “The community deserves transparency from the EPA and the Army Corps,” said Rachael Jones, a professor at UCLA.

Jasso reiterated the community’s determination to hold officials accountable. “We don’t want this site here. We’ll keep fighting against it. But for now, we need to ensure the safety of our children and families.”

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