Stories

Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group remove the skid plate from the bottom of a fire-damaged electric vehicle to gain access to the vehicle’s battery unit so they can safely dispose of it, Altadena, California, Feb. 19, 2025. - Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group remove the skid plate from the bottom of a fire-damaged electric vehicle to gain access to the vehicle’s battery unit so they can safely dispose of it, Altadena, California, Feb. 19, 2025. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command deployed approximately 170 active-duty personnel to assist Environmental Protection Agency-led teams with cleanup of wildfire hazardous waste from the Eaton and Palisades fires in California. U.S. Army North, NORTHCOM’s Joint Force Land Component Command, is overseeing the military’s support to federal and state efforts, while Joint Task Force Civil Support is providing on-the-ground command and control of active-duty personnel. Work to remove the hazardous materials is phase 1 of the federal cleanup response to ensure the safety of the residents by preventing these materials from being released into the environment. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Maj. Casey Nelsen)