AFTER THE LA FIRE: Toxic Battery Cleanup

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When a wildfire destroys thousands of homes, the danger doesn’t end when the flames go out. Inside the wreckage, burned electric vehicles, home energy storage systems, and lithium-ion battery packs create an entirely new hazard—one that requires a specialized cleanup operation.

I traveled to Los Angeles, California, to go inside the exclusion zone of the Palisades Fire, documenting how the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, and emergency crews are tackling this massive hazardous materials operation.

🚗 What happens to electric vehicles & home battery systems after a wildfire?
⚠️ Why burned lithium-ion batteries pose a major fire & explosion risk
🛠️ How emergency crews mark, remove, and safely dispose of damaged batteries
🔎 The Army Corps of Engineers' role in clearing the ash layer
💥 The unexpected dangers hidden in the debris—including live ammunition and a grenade

The EPA expects to process over 300 TONS of burned batteries, making this one of the largest lithium-ion battery cleanups in history. With each disaster, new challenges emerge, and this response will help refine future cleanup protocols.


00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - LA Wildfires (January 2025)
01:10 - How many were involved in the wildfire cleanup
02:22 - Palisades Wildfire Primary & Secondary Cleanup
05:11 - Finding Lithium-ion Battery Hazards
06:10 - Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Battery Removal Process
09:04 - Residential Home Energy Storage System Removal Process
12:18 - Geographic Information System (GIS) Hazard Locations
14:16 - Hidden Hazard (Where's the EV?)
14:35 - Bomb Squad?!
15:00 - Lithium-ion Battery Disposal (Destruction)
16:45 - Why Crush Batteries?
17:13 - Where will the Batteries Go?
18:28 - Final Phase of Wildfire Cleanup
18:45 - Shredding Lithium-ion Batte