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Burning Teslas in L.A. Add to Toxic Mix Hindering Cleanup
Transport Topics ^ | January 17, 2025

Posted on 01/17/2025 7:50:29 AM PST by karpov

As the smoke clears from devastating Los Angeles wildfires, efforts to clean up the affected areas are being complicated by burnt-out electric and hybrid vehicles and home-battery storage systems.

Lithium batteries from Tesla Inc., along with those from other carmakers, have added to the mix of toxic materials requiring specialized removal in the wake of the fires, delaying the fire victims’ return to their properties.

“A lot of the cars in the evacuation area were lithium batteries,” said Jacqui Irwin, a state assembly member representing the Pacific Palisades, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the fires. “We’ve heard from firefighters that those lithium batteries burned fires near homes — like those with power walls — for much longer.”

The L.A. wildfires, which began Jan. 7, have taken at least 27 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. While the dry, dangerous winds are forecast to end — a lack of rain and another possible round of winds next week has kept officials concerned that the danger is not over.

Estimates for insurance losses from the fires have rapidly jumped to as high as $40 billion and BlackRock Inc. CEO Larry Fink has warned it could take a decade to rebuild the city. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already allocated $100 million to the cleanup effort.

There were over 431,000 Teslas in operation in the Los Angeles area as of October 2024, according to data from S&P Global Mobility. Based on new registrations, their market share locally was three times that of the rest of the nation. The Tesla Model Y was the biggest-selling vehicle in the state through September, according to the California New Car Dealers Association.

Fires in lithium batteries can require large amounts of water to put out

(Excerpt) Read more at ttnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: automotive; california; ev; fire; iwbg; lafires; lithiumbattery; losangeles; tesla; toxic
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Yet another reason California should ditch its pending ban on gasoline-powered car sales.
1 posted on 01/17/2025 7:50:29 AM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

I believe they use special blankets to put the fires out.


2 posted on 01/17/2025 7:52:30 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: karpov

So, now Pacific Palisades will be a Federal Superfund cleanup site. How do you ever get a mortgage on the land where the Lithium from the batteries contaminated the ground?


3 posted on 01/17/2025 7:53:53 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: Sacajaweau

Probably no money for them in the budget. Who needs fire equipment?? Right karen!


4 posted on 01/17/2025 7:54:28 AM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within ? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: rktman

Will Trump pull the rug out from under Elon’s baby? He fired a lot of new hires the first time around.


5 posted on 01/17/2025 7:56:40 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: karpov

Homeowners insurance costs could rise if a property includes electric cars, solar panels, or lithium power walls, as insurance companies might be responsible for covering cleanup expenses if the homeowner files a claim.


6 posted on 01/17/2025 7:58:27 AM PST by DEPcom (DC is not my Capitol after Jan 6th lock downs.)
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To: woodbutcher1963

Many people have taken lithium carbonate daily to treat depression.

Nickel is found in most stainless steel I believe. People cook in stainless steel and use stainless steel utensils.


7 posted on 01/17/2025 8:00:56 AM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: woodbutcher1963

No, it will not.

Newscum just issued an EOrder giving only the state the right to buy properties in the Palisades for next 90 days. This is the timeframe when owners of the land (no house left) have to decide on rebuilding or going somewhere else. In this time he will rezone for apts — that only the state will build and own.


8 posted on 01/17/2025 8:02:18 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: karpov

bkmk


9 posted on 01/17/2025 8:02:44 AM PST by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: karpov

None of the other burning electric vehicles are hindering cleanup or is this article just an attack on Musk? We all know the answer.


10 posted on 01/17/2025 8:03:07 AM PST by ConservaTexan (February 6, 1911/June 14, 1944)
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To: woodbutcher1963

Houses have burned in America even before Ben Franklin was born.

Pewter was common in colonial America.


11 posted on 01/17/2025 8:03:17 AM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: karpov

Interesting. Thanks for posting. BIG ME$$.


12 posted on 01/17/2025 8:03:56 AM PST by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: karpov

“Return to their properties” probably won’t ever happen. People will be required to continue to pay their mortgages and property taxes even if their homes are ashes. This means a majority of the owners will lose their property which ultimately will be confiscated by the government or speculators who will obtain it from the banks and pay off the taxes. Suspect in the long run most of the property owners will have to absorb huge losses and simply move and start over. The weird envioros will get their way and much of the burned areas after the debris is cleared will return to wilderness. After 300years, few will know it ever happened.


13 posted on 01/17/2025 8:05:58 AM PST by allendale
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To: Sacajaweau
I believe they use special blankets to put the fires out.

My friend is the fire chief of our neighboring town. We are suburban / rural, so we don't have a lot of Teslas or EVs like SoCal, but they are around

I asked him: "what do you do with a burning Tesla?"

His reply: "let it burn."

me: "what if its parked in someone's garage"

Him: "we try to separate the garage from the house and save the house if possible"

14 posted on 01/17/2025 8:06:00 AM PST by PGR88
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To: PGR88

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrf4dJotFqo


15 posted on 01/17/2025 8:07:51 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau
I believe they use special blankets to put the fires out.

Yes and no. The special blankets don't put the fire out, just cover the EV's while they keep burning. It's to prevent other things around the EV from catching fire. But if everything around the EV is already burning, there's no value added from the special EV fire blankets.

16 posted on 01/17/2025 8:08:34 AM PST by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: PGR88

I just posted a link. Pretty interesting...blankets


17 posted on 01/17/2025 8:08:40 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: karpov

The junkyard of the future is not you Daddy’s junkyard.


18 posted on 01/17/2025 8:08:54 AM PST by Biblebelter
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To: ConservaTexan
None of the other burning electric vehicles are hindering cleanup or is this article just an attack on Musk?

The Government-friendly Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Ford Escape are certified to only release water, oxygen, lavender, and unicorn farts when burned, so they are all OK.

19 posted on 01/17/2025 8:09:55 AM PST by PGR88
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To: Tell It Right

I just published a link on blankets...vs water


20 posted on 01/17/2025 8:10:53 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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