Burning Lithium Batteries From EVs Complicate Los Angeles Wildfire Cleanup

Toxic fumes from electric vehicle fires and damaged battery systems are delaying residents' return and cleanup efforts in affected areas.

Los Angeles wildfires, which began on January 7, have claimed 27 lives, destroyed over 12,300 structures, and scorched nearly 40,000 acres of land.
Burned electric vehicles and lithium-ion battery systems are releasing toxic fumes and requiring specialized removal, delaying cleanup and residents' return to affected neighborhoods.
Lithium battery fires are difficult to extinguish, often requiring tens of thousands of gallons of water and taking up to 40 times longer to put out than standard fires.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated $100 million for cleanup, but experts warn the scale of toxic materials, including lithium batteries, poses significant health and environmental risks.
California officials are implementing protocols developed during previous disasters, such as the 2023 Maui fires, to manage the hazardous waste left behind by the burned batteries.