Beginning in November 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 two wildfires this year.
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:
River Complex Fire (Siskiyou and Trinity Counties)
- Crews began assessment of 37 parcels in early November.
DTSC crews removing household hazardous waste in Trinity County
Household hazardous waste being removed following the River Complex fire
Windy Fire (Tulare County)
- Phase 1 operations were completed November 9. Cleanup was done on a total of 15 properties.
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.