Massive Multi-Agency Effort Underway To Clear Millions of Tons of Eaton Fire Debris By Truck

Large dump trucks will roll in a continuous convoy today from Altadena and parts of Pasadena to regional landfills as a coordinated response to the Eaton Fire debris removal ramps up.

The cleanup operation, estimated to involve a total of 4.5 million tons of debris from both the Eaton and Palisades fires—ten times the volume from the 2023 Maui wildfires—represents one of the largest coordinated disaster recovery efforts in recent history.

Pasadena announced three major haul routes for debris removal: West of Lake Ave: Woodbury Road to Arroyo Blvd to I-210 on/off ramps; East of Lake Ave and west of Eaton Canyon Golf Course: New York Drive to Sierra Madre Villa Ave to Rosemead Blvd to I-210 on/off ramps; and East of Eaton Canyon Golf Course: Michillinda Ave to I-210 on/off ramps.

Trucks hauling debris from the burn areas will utilize local streets until they reach the haul route, and from there, will utilize the haul route to access the freeway, according to City officials.

Under a White House directive, the EPA initially compressed its cleanup timeline from six months to 30 days, though this was later extended to 45 days following community feedback. The accelerated schedule aims to expedite debris removal so the Army Corps can begin structural clearance.

Four temporary staging areas have been established to process debris: Lario Park in Irwindale, Altadena Golf Course for Eaton Fire debris, Former Topanga Ranch Motel, and Will Rogers State Beach for Palisades Fire debris.

The EPA reported it has implemented comprehensive safety measures at these sites, including real-time air quality monitoring with publicly accessible data, water trucks spraying sites three times daily with gravel berms and wattles to minimize runoff, pre- and post-cleanup soil testing, and installation of plastic barriers and spill controls.

“These things are explosive, biohazardous, and yet you’re bringing them 16 miles from the burn scar,” noted Azusa Councilman Andrew Mendez, expressing concerns shared by several communities along the disposal routes.

In response to community feedback, authorities have made several adjustments to the original plan, including rerouting trucks away from residential zones and extending the cleanup timeline to allow for additional community input. The City reminds residents to be patient and drive safely if they experience additional truck traffic along these haul routes, as this is a critical part of the rebuilding process and recovery efforts.

The massive cleanup effort follows the catastrophic Eaton Fire that ignited on January 7, 2025, burning over 14,000 acres across Altadena and Pasadena. The disaster claimed at least 17 civilian lives and left thousands displaced, creating an urgent need for rapid but careful debris removal.