Malibu, CA – The City of Malibu is working in partnership with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath to advocate for the community and ensure transparency as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rapidly moves forward with household hazardous materials removal in areas impacted by recent wildfires. As part of this effort, the EPA has identified the former Topanga Motel property in LA County’s unincorporated area, near the intersection of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and PCH as a potential staging location within the burn area.
This accelerated cleanup effort comes in response to a directive from the White House to complete Phase 1 by the end of February—a process that would typically take six months to a year given the scale of devastation. To meet this unprecedented timeline, the EPA has deployed over 60 teams and nearly 1,000 personnel to affected areas, working with urgency to ensure hazardous materials are safely removed.
“We understand the concerns in our community and want to provide clarity on what is happening,” said Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart. “The vast majority of what EPA teams are removing consists of household hazardous waste items such as batteries, paints, and propane tanks—things that are commonly found in homes but need to be handled properly after a fire. Some of these items may be fire-damaged, while others remain intact, but all are carefully managed following strict safety protocols. To the extent that any of these materials or containers are damaged, the EPA follows strict containment protocols—they are isolated, triple-wrapped, and securely placed in a sealed drum before ever leaving the property. This is not the stage where heavy equipment, debris removal, or structural scrapping occurs—those activities fall under Phase 2, which has not yet begun.”
The EPA has assured that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent environmental contamination. The City remains committed to advocating for the community, addressing concerns directly with the EPA, and ensuring that fire debris cleanup efforts prioritize public safety, environmental protection, and transparency. We will continue to push for clear communication and community engagement as the process moves forward and encourages residents to stay informed and participate in upcoming discussions.