 The Department of Toxic Substances Control is available to assist local, state and federal agencies after major wildfires. Staff from DTSC’s Emergency Response Program oversees contractors who remove household hazardous waste (HHW) and asbestos from burned structures and parcels. Examples of HHW include 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; and CRTs from televisions, computers and other electronic devices. The contaminated debris is cleaned up and contained as quickly as possible to minimize exposure to emergency personnel, the public, and workers involved in restoration efforts.
Last year, DTSC launched a mapping tool that’s designed both for emergency crews and public use. The data inputted by crews on the ground streamlines DTSC’s cleanup of Household Hazardous Waste and keeps the public updated in real time.
Launch DTSC’s Public Dashboard here.
Helpful Information (Fact Sheets):
DTSC in the News
HBO’s Vice News: What The Deadly Wildfires Raging Across California Left Behind
The Sacramento Bee: How California cleans up after a ‘firenado’
The work, removing obvious hazardous waste like melted car batteries and jugs of chlorine, marks the first step in rebuilding after massive natural disasters.
Wildfire Public Dashboards
DTSC’s real-time Public Dashboard provides critical information to crews on the ground. In addition, it displays the latest information regarding DTSC’s cleanup process to keep the public informed.
Mendocino Complex Fire Public Dashboard
The Mendocino Complex Fire Public Dashboard (below) displays the total number of parcels impacted by the recent wildfires, the number of parcels assessed to date, and the number of parcels assessed each day in Mendocino and Lake Counties. Click the image below to get more details and access the Public Dashboard.
Carr Fire Public Dashboard
The Carr Fire Public Dashboard (below) displays the total number of parcels impacted by the recent wildfires, the number of parcels assessed to date, and the number of parcels assessed each day in Redding and surrounding areas. Click the image below to get more details and access the Public Dashboard.
Lake and Siskiyou County Fires Public Dashboard
The Pawnee Fire (Lake County) and the Klamathon Fire (Siskiyou County) Public Dashboard displays the total number of parcels impacted by the recent wildfires, the number of parcels assessed to date, and the number of parcels assessed each day. Click the image below to get more details and access the Dashboard.
October & December 2017 Wildfire Recovery
DTSC is working with local, state, and federal partners on the response to the series of wildfires that broke out in Northern California in October 2017, and in Southern California in December 2017. DTSC has received mission assignments from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to perform the first phase of the cleanup to remove household hazardous waste and asbestos.
Ventura Fires Public Dashboard
The Ventura Fires Public Dashboard displays the total number of parcels impacted by the Thomas Fire, the number of parcels assessed to date, and the number of parcels assessed each day. Click the image below to get more details and access the Dashboard.
Click the image above for real-time data
Northern California Wildfire
DTSC Wildfire Cleanup Success Story
Read our success story entitled, "DTSC Fire Cleanup Helps Northern Californians Rebuild."
DTSC Wildfire Cleanup Video
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State Agency Sites: