'Everything's holding really well,' fire information officer Lisa Cox said. It has destroyed over 1,000 structures, including at least 750 homes. The Thomas Fire is now 45 percent contained, according to Calfire. The blaze - which has gone on for two weeks and engulfed some 269,000 acres - has become the third largest wildfire in the state's modern history. Learn more about what to do if this happens to you.In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a Bombardier 415 Super Scooper makes a water drop on hot spots along the hillside east of Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Sunday morning.įirefighters battling the massive Thomas Fire northwest of Los Angeles were working against another round of high winds to prevent its spread to homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito. Note: EPA has learned that people affected by the fires may be receiving fraudulent calls from individuals posing as EPA staff and asking for financial information or offering grant awards. EPA will coordinate with cities and counties to keep communities informed about the status of the Agency's HHW collection activities.Īs of late November, EPA had completed removal of HHW at more than 98% of fire-affected parcels in Napa and Sonoma counties.Ĭlick here for a story map that shows in detail the status of EPA’s work on properties in the fire-affected areas of Napa and Sonoma counties. These efforts will reduce potential threats to public health and safety and allow safe removal of solid waste, debris and ash in the fire-affected areas. Products such as paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, herbicides and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special handling and disposal. HHW includes leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic. EPA is also removing asbestos from burned properties, and collecting and disposing of hazardous drums and containers. This work clears the way for proper removal of ash and debris, allowing the rebuilding process to begin. Please consult this fact sheet for information on asbestos and ways to prevent exposure.ĮPA has led the survey, collection and disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW) at nearly 7,000 residential and commercial parcels affected by the fires in Sonoma and Napa counties. Army Corps of Engineers to identify and remove parcels with asbestos-containing materials. EPA began work on November 27 and is working with the U.S.

In mid-November, FEMA asked EPA to conduct asbestos removal for impacted parcels in Lake and Mendocino counties.

Si usted tiene preguntas sobre el trabajo de EPA recolectando residuos peligrosos domésticos de propiedades afectadas por los incendios, favor de ver el mapa interactivo explicando el progreso de la respuesta y la hoja de datos “Protegiendo a usted y a su familia de asbesto” o contáctenos al correo electrónico ¡Y también tenga cuidado con los estafadores! Army Corps of Engineers, and state and local partners in the ongoing joint response to the fires. EPA is providing support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Fires began burning on October 8, 2017, in multiple counties of Northern California.

Fires in california 2017 map