After the devastating fires in Southern California, the wreckage left behind is posing dangers of its own, some residents say.
The Environmental Protection Agency is collecting debris, but the storage sites they’ve chosen is raising concerns among some who live near those sites.
At the Topanga Ranch Motel in Malibu, some are worried the storage of dangerous items like lithium ion batteries for electric cars could endanger public health and hurt the nearby environment, leading to protests.
Opponents like Alisa Land argue that while the site is close to the damage of the Palisades Fire, it’s also near people and fragile ecosystems on the coast and in the nearby Pacific Ocean.
“Protesters argue that the EPA failed to provide advance notice and express concerns about potential environmental and health risks associated with the site’s operations,” the Malibu Times reports.
“We are concerned of causing environmental damage for years to come. We ask for this placement to be reconsidered,” she told KTLA’s Omar Lewis.
Rusty Harris-Bishop of the EPA argues that this is a staging area and the items’ presence will be limited.
“We recognize that we are working in a sensitive area, but we’re also addressing burnt parcels that are on the ocean, so we’re collecting materials from throughout the fire footprint that have a direct impact on the environment,” he said.
