The focus is now on cleanup of the resulting ash and debris -- both of which could pose risks to people and the environment. The debris includes household hazardous waste that California Department of Toxic Substances Control spokeswoman Abbott Dutton said can be batteries, paints, flammable liquids, asbestos siding and pipe insulation. The first step in a wildfire cleanup operation, Klug said, is to evaluate and remove hazardous waste debris. "The hazardous waste must be properly disposed of at a waste facility to prevent further exposure to the public and the environment." After the hazardous waste is removed, agencies and crews obtain right-of-entry permissions from property owners to evaluate and remove ash, debris and contaminated soil, Klug said.

Source: CNN October 29, 2017 00:45 UTC