A brush fire broke out in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday, January 21, as strong Santa Ana winds persisted across Southern California. Known as the "Clay Fire," it ignited along the Santa Ana River Bottom near Pedley Road and Van Buren Boulevard around 5 p.m.
Los Angeles is grappling with the toxic aftermath of wildfires that devastated areas including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, destroying over 15,000 structures and releasing dangerous pollutants into the air. Scientists report that the burning of homes, cars, and infrastructure has produced hazardous levels of toxins, including lead and chlorine.
Exxon Mobil Corp. filed a lawsuit against California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups, alleging that Bonta and the groups organized a defamation campaign against its plastic recycling efforts.
The Biden administration has started a formal evaluation of risks from vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a plume of toxic black smoke following the train derailment earlier this year in eastern Ohio.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Chevron's plan to create fuel made from recycled plastics, although a 203-page risk assessment suggests the plan may expose individuals to cancer-causing agents.
