VIDEO: Federal crews have removed about 70,000 pounds of potentially hazardous household materials from properties damaged by the Spokane Complex fires, according to Spokane County health officials. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was assigned by FEMA to survey burned properties and remove household hazardous materials in Spokane County and on Spokane Tribe of Indians land. The cleanup is being done at no cost to homeowners.

Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Francisco Velázquez said the effort is intended to make it safer for residents to begin returning to their properties while reducing some of the uncertainty following the fires. “There are a lot of things in the average household that, when exposed to heat or fire, can become corrosive, toxic, explosive, or cause burns or other issues,” Velázquez said.

The EPA is removing items including paint, cleaners and solvents, oils, batteries and pesticides. As of Sunday, crews had reached roughly 50% of the properties included in the cleanup effort, Velázquez said.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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