The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have created a new problem because of lithium batteries in cars like Teslas. These batteries make cleanup harder because they require special care when being removed from the fire debris. As a result, it is delaying residents’ return to their homes. Jacqui Irwin, a representative for the Pacific Palisades area, said many cars in the affected areas had lithium batteries, which also made the fires burn longer, especially near homes with power walls.
Sadly, the fires have caused the deaths of at least 27 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 homes since they started on January 7. In addition, a fire broke out at a Tesla battery storage plant, leading authorities to advise people to “close all windows and doors.”
Lithium battery fires need large amounts of water to put out, and automakers have issued guides to help firefighters handle these situations. In response, LA Public Health warned that no cleanup should begin in areas affected by the fire until a government-approved inspection is done to check for hazardous materials.
As of October 2024, there were over 431,000 Teslas registered in the Los Angeles area, making up a significant portion of the local car market. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car in California through September.
On January 15, Cid Tesoro, Deputy Public Works Director, urged residents not to clean up the fire debris in the areas hit by the Eaton fire due to the risk of sharp objects and dangerous materials like asbestos, lead, and mercury.
Governor Gavin Newsom is aware of the challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries in fires. In an executive order this week, he acknowledged that the state is still adjusting to newer technologies like these batteries, which can be dangerous when exposed to extreme heat. Two years ago, Newsom signed another order to make all vehicles sold in California zero-emission by 2035, making the state a leader in battery storage.
Tara Fitzgerald, an incident commander, said the first step in cleanup is removing materials that pose the highest risks to public health, such as pesticides, batteries, and fuels.
