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The Eaton and Palisades fires had barely broken out when Waste Management offered to accept the inevitable disaster debris at its El Sobrante Landfill near Corona.

But even as the company applied Jan. 8 for an emergency waiver to accept the wildfire rubble, landfill staffers had been struggling for months to control a fiery situation of their own.

In July, El Sobrante managers informed the South Coast Air Quality Management District that a chemical reaction brewing inside the landfill was causing broiling temperatures and producing toxic sulfur pollution, according to air district records.

Waste Management sought approval to increase its tonnage capacity to take in wildfire debris anyway, which Riverside County officials granted the next day.

Riverside County officials are now requesting help from state officials for technical assistance with the situation. They acknowledge that they were notified by environmental regulators about the elevated temperatures, but declined to address whether granting the waiver was appropriate.

So far, no fire debris has been taken to the landfill, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency overseeing the debris cleanup. But, as of Thursday morning, it had remained on a list of sites that were eligible to accept this material.

Since The Times inquired about the chemical reaction at El Sobrante, state environmental regulators say they have ruled out allowing fire debris to be taken there.

“Debris from this year’s fires has not been sent to the El Sobrante landfill nor is the site under consideration for future use for this purpose,” said Nefretiri Cooley, a spokesperson for the California Environmental Protection Agency. “We are currently investigating this incident and will provide additional details as they are available.”

Waste Management executives say the chemical reaction has not interfered with daily operations at the 1,322-acre landfill. The affected area, they say, is about 3,000 feet from the section of the landfill where they had planned to dump disaster debris.

Environmental advocates, however, were irked that the landfill had even sought permission.

“I’m shocked and appalled that El Sobrante would take ash when it knows that its landfill is on fire,” said Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics. “You greatly increase the public health danger to the communities surrounding when landfills are being operated like this. An out-of-control landfill can emit more [toxic] benzene than an oil refinery.”

The situation at El Sobrante Landfill underscores the checkered compliance history at many Southern California landfills that are poised to receive an estimated 4.5 million tons of potentially hazardous ash, rubble and soil from the federal cleanup efforts. With such problems as excessive air pollution and insufficient inspections, state and local environmental regulators have handed down dozens of violations to these waste disposal facilities in the last year alone.

El Sobrante is the second landfill in Southern California in recent years to experience this type of scorching-hot chemical reaction — commonly called an underground landfill fire. Since 2022, operators of the since-closed Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic struggled to contain noxious fumes and contaminated runoff caused by an underground garbage fire.

These underground dump fires cannot be easily extinguished and often take years to peter out. Although a cause has not been identified, these incidents have called into question the environmental oversight of California’s landfills.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the state agency that regulates landfills, declined to provide a comment.

In July, El Sobrante staff members told the local air district that the landfill had experienced a rise in highly flammable hydrogen gas and lung-aggravating dimethyl sulfide emissions — both telltale signs of abnormal temperatures inside the landfill.

Waste Management executives said in August that the pollution was emanating from a two-acre “area of concern” where landfill staff had observed temperatures climbing above 200 degrees, according to Waste Management executives. Staff members also reported cracks on the landfill’s surface, with vapors and liquid waste seeping out. Since then, landfill workers began extracting liquid waste from the reaction area to alleviate the heat and pressure, transporting it to a waste treatment facility, according to air district records.

“South Coast AQMD continues to conduct unannounced on-site inspections at the landfill and responds to all public complaints,” said Nahal Mogharabi, a spokesperson for the air district. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

The conditions at El Sobrante Landfill mirror issues at Chiquita Canyon Landfill, where residents called in thousands of odor complaints to the local air district.

Air district inspectors found white smoke venting from cracks on the landfill’s surface and liquid waste bursting onto the surface in a geyser-like fashion. The Environmental Protection Agency said the reaction posed an “imminent” danger to public health and the environment, citing the toxic chemicals released. L.A. County officials eventually helped organize a temporary relocation program for residents who wanted to escape the stench and toxic fumes.

Waste Connections, the owner of Chiquita Canyon, closed the landfill in December and is focusing on managing the reaction area.

Federal and state environmental regulators suspected the Chiquita Canyon reaction was caused by oxygen intrusion.

Similar to oil drill sites, landfills have an extensive network of underground wells that are used to extract gases produced as buried waste decomposes. But if this system fails or overdraws these gases, these wells can introduce oxygen into the waste, speeding up waste decomposition and producing heat.

In addition to the air pollution, the extreme heat has the potential to damage the protective liner underneath the landfill that prevents liquid waste from seeping into the groundwater beneath and migrating to neighboring areas.

Recently, residents have protested outside some Southern California landfills to oppose the decision to dispose of fire debris at local landfills, which typically handle only garbage and construction debris. They have expressed concerns about these landfills’ ability to properly dispose of potentially hazardous wildfire ash and rubble — emphasizing long-standing issues with handling municipal solid waste.

For the record:

2:36 p.m. Feb. 28, 2025A previous version of the article stated that CalRecycle inspectors identified several violations at El Sobrante Landfill. Riverside County inspectors, who work in partnership with CalRecycle, found those violations.

In the last year, El Sobrante Landfill has been cited several times for excessive air pollution by the local air district. In that time, Riverside County inspectors also identified violations for elevated levels of flammable methane, improper signage and failure to conduct sufficient truck inspections to ensure hazardous wastes aren’t disposed at the site.

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CORONA, CALIF. - Coming into this season being defending Prep Baseball National Champions, the expectations are straightforward for Coach Andy Wise and Corona High School.

“Our expectations are to be the best and win everything,” said Andy Wise, head coach of the Corona Panthers since 2009.

Wise has taken the high school baseball world by storm with him and his staff’s ability to construct what is to be considered one of the best baseball programs in the entire nation.

Reaching the CIF finals in 2012 and 2017, as well as winning it all in 2024, the Panthers are a program built upon legacy, preparedness, and talent. Even after losing important pieces such as 4-year starting varsity catcher Josh Springer (Texas Rangers Draft Pick) and left-handed pitcher Ethan Schiefelbein (Detroit Tigers Draft Pick), the team may even be better this year than it was the year prior.

“This group is just trying to repeat what that team did. The talent is there, but that does not dictate winning,” said Wise.

The talent of this roster is evident on paper. With a lineup containing eight Division One committed players, the Panthers are a team forced to be reckoned with.

It starts with three highly touted seniors, MLB Draft prospects, and all two time Prep Baseball All-Americans: Seth Hernandez, Brady Ebel, and Billy Carlson.

Seth Hernandez, a RHP/OF committed to play at Vanderbilt, is the number one ranked pitcher and number two ranked player in the class of 2025. The 6’ 3’’ dual threat can top 100 MPH on the mound, with an exit velocity off the bat reaching upwards of 107.1 MPH. Hernadez serves as the team’s ace as well as a pivotal bat in the lineup.

Hernandez pitching at the 2024 Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational

Brady Ebel, a SS committed to play at LSU is the number two-ranked infielder and the number four ranked player in the class of 2025. The left-handed, five-tool prospect has a career OBP of .368 for the Panthers as well as playing exceptional defense at both 3B and SS.

Brady Ebel at the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American Game in Miami, FL.

Billy Carlson, a SS/RHP committed to play at the University of Tennessee, is the fifth-ranked shortstop and the seventh-ranked player in the class of 2025. A former Prep Baseball Future Games participant, Carlson hit to the tune of a .367 average in his junior season for Corona, as well as clubbing four home runs in the process. Additionally, Carlson serves as a vital asset in Corona’s bullpen, topping 91.9 MPH with his fastball.

Billy Carlson at the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American Game in Miami FL. where he hit an opposite-field HR.

As for coaching such highly touted prospects, Coach Wise finds it to be pretty easy due to how they take care of their business.

“Those guys know one way to play the game both mentally and physically and they just do it," said Wise. "They're great teammates, great competitors, but most importantly they are great people.”

In addition to Carlson, Ebel, and Hernadez, the Corona lineup and rotation is bolstered by the likes of other division one commits such as ‘25 RHP/OF Jason Gerfers (Arizona State) and ‘25 OF Joshua Sur (Vanguard).

Leadoff hitter ‘26 OF Anthony Murphy is committed to play at Louisiana State University as well.

Brady’s younger brother, INF Trey Ebel, is committed to play at Texas A&M in the fall of 2026.

‘25 RHP/INF Ethin Bingamin is committed to Auburn University and will join Ebel, Hernadez, and Carlson in the ever-so-competitive SEC.

“Our lineup gives us confidence. We are just going to do what we do and our lineup is extremely difficult on pitchers," said Wise. "It’s all about grinding out good-at bats and every guy from top to bottom is a threat.”

The pitching staff is just as equally talented as the bats that Corona puts forth. With a strong four-man rotation, headlined by Hernadez and Bingamin, and a deep reliever pool highlighted by Carlson and Gerfers, Corona’s well-rounded roster provides a tough test for any team that faces the Panthers.

“We probably have the best pitching staff and we probably have the best defense going,” said Wise.

As for strength of schedule, Wise and his staff have always prioritized a schedule that provides a challenge.

The Panthers face competitive schools such as Mater Dei, Gahr, and Summit High School this season to help them prepare for what they expect to be a deep playoff run.

“Even when we were not highly touted and ranked, the philosophy of mine and this program is to be big game hunters and beef up our schedule," said Wise. "We want the best game we can get so we can take something from each good program we play and add it to our own mix.”

The culture that Wise has fostered at Corona has been a long time in the making. Wise, a former player at Long Beach State and Santa Ana College, has absorbed the knowledge of what it takes to be an excellent coach from the likes of Dave Snow and Ken Ravizza.

“I am really just trying to give my spin with my personality from the coaches that I have played for and worked with," said Wise. "Corona Baseball is a little bit of Santa Ana College, a little bit of Long Beach State, and I couldn't be more honored to represent those programs and those coaches. Just trying to do the same as they did for me.”

As for program legacy, Panther alumni is headlined by the likes of Joe Kelly and Tristian Beck.

Joe Kelly, a two-time world series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, went on to play for UC Riverside and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Tristan Beck, a right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, attended Stanford University after his time at Corona, and was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft.

“It’s a great brotherhood and having alumni come back and share their stories is amazing," said Wise. "All the way from Joe Kelly to Tristian Beck, you can really see how the Corona baseball community and culture has grown and it's fun to watch to see players who have represented our program enter the real world prepared.

Under Coach Wise, a plethora of both offensive, defensive, and pitching talent, the Corona Panthers hope to run it back and prove why they are considered to be one of, if not the best program in the nation. Through the mentality of hard work, preparation, and playing the game the right way, the Corona Panthers have what it takes to be repeat as Prep Baseball National champions.

“We know everyone wants to kick our ass so we’re always getting a team’s best and we wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Wise.

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