𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥: Palm Trees Cut Down for New Power Lines After Devastating Wildfire

On Monday, February 10, 2025, crews from Tree Service Kings, Inc. were hard at work along Swarthmore Avenue in Pacific Palisades, removing palm trees that posed a risk to newly installed power lines. As part of ongoing recovery efforts following the devastating Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has been replacing damaged power poles. To ensure public safety and prevent future outages, palm trees interfering with utility lines had to be removed as part of a utility line clearance operation.

The Palisades Fire, which erupted on January 7, 2025, spread rapidly due to powerful Santa Ana winds and extended drought conditions. The wildfire consumed more than 23,000 acres, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and forced the evacuation of approximately 150,000 residents across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. The fire tragically claimed at least five lives and left many others injured. In the aftermath, utility restoration and fire mitigation efforts remain a top priority for the community’s rebuilding process.

Tree Service Kings, Inc., a Canoga Park-based company specializing in tree maintenance, has been at the forefront of these efforts. Established in 2007, the company provides utility line clearance, as well as residential, commercial, and municipal tree services across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Their expertise includes tree pruning, removal, stump grinding, and brush clearing to comply with fire safety regulations. Fully licensed, insured, and bonded, the company operates under strict safety protocols and professional standards.

Committed to workforce development, Tree Service Kings, Inc. follows the SEED program—Safety, Education, and Employee Development—to ensure their team is well-trained and equipped for hazardous tasks. The company maintains an active USDOT number (2720563) and operates 16 power units with 20 drivers, engaging in interstate commerce.

As Pacific Palisades continues to recover from the fire, operations like these play a crucial role in restoring essential services and maintaining public safety. Residents and businesses seeking tree care services can contact Tree Service Kings, Inc. at (818) 772-4850 for more information.

Demolition Begins on First Homes in Pacific Palisades Following Devastating Fire

On Monday, February 10, 2025, JG Demolition & Construction Cleanup Inc. began demolition on one of the first homes in Pacific Palisades following the catastrophic Palisades Fire. The crew, led by CEO Jorge Gurrola, was on-site on Embury Street, where they carefully carried out the next phase of recovery after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed hazardous material removal. Gurrola explained that before demolition could begin, the EPA had to clear the site of hazardous materials such as aerosol cans, batteries, and propane tanks. Once the EPA issued a completion notice, a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) was brought in to conduct necessary testing. If tests return negative for asbestos and other contaminants, homeowners can proceed with applying for a demolition permit. "We are one of the first companies out here in the Palisades breaking ground," said Gurrola. "Our team is following strict protocols, ensuring each step is completed properly, from hazardous material clearance to final debris disposal at certified facilities. We are committed to helping homeowners through this process one house at a time, doing it the right way." JG Demolition is a full-service demolition, excavation, and clearing company specializing in safe and efficient debris removal. The company is a Los Angeles-certified waste hauler, fully EPA Lead-Certified, OSHA Certified, and recycling compliant, ensuring all materials are handled according to the highest environmental and safety standards. As a certified Los Angeles City sub-hauler, JG Demolition is authorized to transport debris to proper disposal facilities while maintaining compliance with local and federal regulations. Gurrola encouraged impacted residents to reach out for estimates and consultations as the cleanup and rebuilding process continues. The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, consumed more than 23,000 acres and destroyed over 12,000 structures, displacing approximately 150,000 residents in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. Strong Santa Ana winds fueled the fire, making containment efforts difficult, while aerial firefighting support was limited due to extreme conditions. Though significant rainfall helped extinguish the blaze, it also introduced new risks, including mudslides and debris flow. As recovery efforts progress, demolition and debris removal mark a crucial step toward rebuilding. Local contractors, environmental agencies, and utility crews continue working to restore services and prepare affected areas for reconstruction.

Demolition Begins on First Homes in Pacific Palisades Following Devastating Fire

On Monday, February 10, 2025, JG Demolition & Construction Cleanup Inc. began demolition on one of the first homes in Pacific Palisades following the catastrophic Palisades Fire. The crew, led by CEO Jorge Gurrola, was on-site on Embury Street, where they carefully carried out the next phase of recovery after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed hazardous material removal.

Gurrola explained that before demolition could begin, the EPA had to clear the site of hazardous materials such as aerosol cans, batteries, and propane tanks. Once the EPA issued a completion notice, a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) was brought in to conduct necessary testing. If tests return negative for asbestos and other contaminants, homeowners can proceed with applying for a demolition permit.

"We are one of the first companies out here in the Palisades breaking ground," said Gurrola. "Our team is following strict protocols, ensuring each step is completed properly, from hazardous material clearance to final debris disposal at certified facilities. We are committed to helping homeowners through this process one house at a time, doing it the right way."

JG Demolition is a full-service demolition, excavation, and clearing company specializing in safe and efficient debris removal. The company is a Los Angeles-certified waste hauler, fully EPA Lead-Certified, OSHA Certified, and recycling compliant, ensuring all materials are handled according to the highest environmental and safety standards. As a certified Los Angeles City sub-hauler, JG Demolition is authorized to transport debris to proper disposal facilities while maintaining compliance with local and federal regulations.

Gurrola encouraged impacted residents to reach out for estimates and consultations as the cleanup and rebuilding process continues.

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, consumed more than 23,000 acres and destroyed over 12,000 structures, displacing approximately 150,000 residents in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. Strong Santa Ana winds fueled the fire, making containment efforts difficult, while aerial firefighting support was limited due to extreme conditions. Though significant rainfall helped extinguish the blaze, it also introduced new risks, including mudslides and debris flow.

As recovery efforts progress, demolition and debris removal mark a crucial step toward rebuilding. Local contractors, environmental agencies, and utility crews continue working to restore services and prepare affected areas for reconstruction.

CONTACT: JG DEMOLITION 818-402-6566

Woman Found Dead on Santa Monica Beach: Homicide Investigation Underway

Santa Monica, CA – A homicide investigation is underway after Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officers responded to the discovery of a deceased woman along the shoreline early Monday morning. At approximately 7:05 a.m. on February 10, City Beach Maintenance personnel found an unresponsive individual near Lifeguard Tower 1550, in the 1500 block of the beach. Officers arrived to find a female victim, believed to be unhoused, and approximately 30 years old, inside a sleeping bag with visible trauma to her face. Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics pronounced her deceased at the scene. The victim’s identity remains unknown, and detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death. SMPD forensic specialists were seen processing the scene throughout the morning. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Detective Peter Zamfirov at Peter.Zamfirov@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Alfonso Lozano at Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov, or the department’s Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427. This is a developing story.

Protesters Rally Against EPA’s Hazardous Waste Processing Site at Will Rogers State Beach

Pacific Palisades, CA – February 9, 2025 – A wave of community outrage swept through Will Rogers State Beach on Sunday as concerned citizens gathered to protest the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to use the beach parking lot as a hazardous waste processing site. Demonstrators voiced concerns about potential contamination, the lack of transparency from officials, and the environmental risks posed by storing toxic debris so close to the ocean.

Organized in response to the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the protest drew residents, environmental advocates, and local officials, all demanding the relocation of the processing site to a safer location within the fire-affected area. Protesters criticized the EPA for failing to engage with the community before selecting the beach as a sorting ground for debris, which reportedly includes toxic heavy metals, asbestos, and lithium battery waste.

Several speakers took the microphone, emphasizing the risks of transporting hazardous materials to a densely populated and environmentally sensitive area. One protester, identified as Ashley, a commissioner for environmental justice in Santa Monica, called for greater transparency and accountability from the EPA and Los Angeles County officials.

“There is so much debris and ash washing up on shore, and now we’re being told that the world’s largest lithium battery waste load will be processed here,” she said. “That’s not just irresponsible—it’s a crisis waiting to happen.”

Others expressed frustration over the lack of local testing for contaminants. Ashley revealed that when she attempted to send samples of beach sand and water for analysis, she was informed that local labs had been instructed not to test materials from private citizens. “I had to send them out of state,” she told the crowd, drawing shouts of disbelief.

The protest also highlighted concerns over potential ocean contamination. Demonstrators warned that upcoming storms and coastal flooding could wash toxic materials directly into the Pacific, posing a serious threat to marine life and public health. Many called for the Army Corps of Engineers to take over the cleanup efforts and for the debris to be processed within the original burn zone instead of being transported to the beach.

A resident whose home was destroyed in the fire stated, “I lost everything, and I am okay with this waste being sorted in my burned-out neighborhood. But do not spread it to our beaches unnecessarily.”

Protesters urged community members to contact elected officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, to demand immediate intervention. Calls for an emergency town hall meeting were made, as demonstrators vowed to continue the fight against what they described as a reckless decision with potentially irreversible consequences for the environment and public safety.

With hazardous debris already being transported to the site and a storm expected to hit the region mid-week, residents are racing against time to halt the EPA’s plan before contaminants enter the ocean. “Once that happens,” Ashley warned, “it’s game over.”

The community remains on high alert, pressing for urgent action to prevent what many fear could become an environmental disaster along one of Los Angeles’ most beloved coastlines.

(Credit: Video published by Shacked on YouTube)

LIGHTS OUT: Copper Wire Theft Suspect Arrested in Santa Monic

Santa Monica, CA – Santa Monica Police arrested a man early Wednesday morning in connection with the theft of more than 300 pounds of copper wire from underground electrical pull boxes along Colorado Avenue.

Officers encountered Juan Carlos Gonzalez Alvarado, 43, near the 1500 block of Colorado Avenue at approximately 1:30 a.m. on February 5, pushing a city-owned trash container filled with the stolen material. Further investigation linked the loose wire to recent thefts at nine locations in the area.

Gonzalez Alvarado was booked on multiple charges, including grand theft, vandalism, possession of burglar tools, and possession of a controlled substance.

Santa Monica maintains a network of over 6,000 streetlights, which city officials say are crucial for public safety. The theft of copper wiring not only leads to costly repairs but also leaves streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks in darkness, creating potential hazards for residents and motorists.

Authorities urge anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Michael Castruita at michael.castruita@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Cooney at shaun.cooney@santamonica.gov, or the SMPD Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.

BURN ZONE HAZARDS: EPA Neutralizes Explosive Lithium Batteries from Palisades Fire

On Friday, February 7, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continued its extensive recovery operations in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, focusing on the safe handling and disposal of hazardous lithium-ion batteries. Chris Myers, Federal On-Scene Coordinator at the EPA and a co-chair of the agency’s National Lithium-Ion Battery Emergency Response Task Force, provided an overview of the work being conducted at the Topanga Lithium Battery Processing Site. The EPA's Lithium Battery Response Task Force had collected batteries from fire-damaged electric vehicles and residential energy storage systems throughout the burn zones in Pacific Palisades. These batteries, transported to the Topanga site in secure 55-gallon drums, underwent a critical safety and processing protocol to mitigate their hazardous potential. At the site, hazmat personnel in white protective suits, respirators, gloves, and hard hats conducted meticulous processing operations. Myers explained the multi-step process: in the field, unstable batteries were removed from vehicles and energy systems and placed into drums for safe transport. Once at the processing site, damaged batteries that had undergone thermal runaway were either crushed to eliminate any chance of further reaction or submerged in an electrolytic brine solution—saltwater—to safely discharge any remaining energy. Crushing rendered the batteries mechanically incapable of causing thermal runaway or explosions. “This operation ensures that these highly volatile batteries are stabilized and no longer pose a safety risk,” Myers said. “By safely discharging and mechanically neutralizing these batteries, we significantly reduce the potential for dangerous incidents.” The EPA’s efforts are part of the broader hazardous materials cleanup mission initiated following the catastrophic Palisades Fire. The fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, consumed more than 23,000 acres and destroyed over 12,000 structures, displacing approximately 150,000 residents in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley. Despite challenges posed by high winds that grounded aerial firefighting efforts, the fire was contained following significant rainfall, which also brought concerns about mudslides and debris flow in the affected areas. The EPA’s ongoing work, alongside other government agencies and relief organizations, remains vital in ensuring the safe and efficient rebuilding of communities impacted by the disaster. By addressing hazardous materials like lithium-ion batteries, the agency is playing a crucial role in safeguarding public and environmental health during the recovery process.