Record fast clean up after Los Angeles questioned for ignoring safety protocols
Thank you for choosing Automatic Translation. Currently we are offering translations from English into French and German, with more translation languages to be added in the near future. Please be aware that these translations are generated by a third party AI software service. While we have found that the translations are mostly correct, they may not be perfect in every case. To ensure the information you read is correct, please refer to the original article in English. If you find an error in a translation which you would like to bring to our attention, it would help us greatly if you let us know. We can correct any text or section, once we are aware of it. Please do not hesitate to contact our webmaster to let us know of any translation errors.
In the aftermath of the devastating Corral Complex Fire that scorched over 80,000 acres in Los Angeles County, officials have praised the cleanup operation as one of the fastest in California history.
Crews removed debris from more than 1,200 properties in under six weeks—an unprecedented pace compared to past wildfires.
However, an article on Los Angeles Times highlights growing concerns among environmental experts and residents about the potential safety trade-offs. Critics argue that the rapid timeline may have compromised soil testing, asbestos removal, and hazardous waste screening. Some cleanup crews reportedly skipped key safety protocols to meet aggressive deadlines.
The California Office of Emergency Services defended the operation, citing improved logistics and lessons learned from previous disasters. Yet whistleblowers within the cleanup teams warned that rushing the process could expose communities to long-term health risks.
The article on Los Angeles Times also notes that climate change is driving more frequent and intense wildfires, putting pressure on agencies to respond faster—sometimes at the expense of thoroughness.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
English: Springtime overnight rains run off into La Ballona Creek, in the Del Rey-Mar Vista district of western Los Angeles.
- This picture taken from a kite.
- Mar Vista Gardens (public housing) can be seen on the right, as a cleanup crew works under the Inglewood Blvd. overpass.
Date: 8 April 2009
Author: Joelorama
Permission
(Reusing this file)
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 US based on United States law
Camera location
33° 59′ 27.66″ N, 118° 24′ 34.69″ W 
View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap
Read more:
https://www.pbssocal.org/speedy-la-fire-clean-up-hailed-as-historic-even-as-safety-is-questioned
https://www.capradio.org/articles/2025/06/03/speedy-la-fire-cleanup-hailed-as-h…