News Releases

News Releases from Region 09

EPA Begins Prep and Cleanup at Fruitland Magnesium Fire Site in Maywood, Calif.

Debris removal will take approximately eight weeks

10/17/2016
Contact Information: 
Nahal Mogharabi (mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov)
213-244-1815
En español: Soledad Calvino (calvino.maria@epa.gov)
415-972-3512

LOS ANGELES—Today, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin site preparations and hazardous waste removal in the aftermath of the Fruitland Magnesium Fire in Maywood, Calif.  The cleanup activities are expected to last approximately eight weeks and may cost up to $3 million.

As a result of debris removal, odors from burned material may be noticeable in the area, depending on weather conditions.  EPA will be conducting air monitoring throughout the cleanup and will take measures to ensure contaminants at the site do not pose a health risk.  

Prior to the start of the cleanup work, EPA will prepare the site by installing a debris barrier to prevent material and dust from re-entering the surrounding neighborhoods. Once the debris barrier is in place, EPA will work with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to classify and remove non-hazardous materials such as debris and scrap metal. Any hazardous materials found will be separated and transported to an EPA-approved facility.  Confirmation sampling will be done to ensure the cleanup goals have been achieved.

Background
On June 14, 2016, a fire destroyed an industrial property located at 3570 Fruitland Avenue in Maywood, Calif. The fire affected two facilities on the Fruitland Avenue property – Panda International Trading (PIT), a scrap metal recycling business, and SOKOR Metals, an electronics recycling business. The EPA will continue to coordinate with state and local agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazardous Materials Division and the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery.

For more information, please visit: /ca/epa-response-fruitland-magnesium-fire-maywood-ca

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