77

MORE RECOVERY INFO

Mountain View News Saturday, September 13, 2025

PUBLIC HEALTH RELEASES FINAL FINDINGS 
OF SOIL TESTING IN FIRE-IMPACTED AREAS

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released the final findings from 
representative soil sample testing in and around the Eaton and Palisades fire areas, 
confirming a higher percentage of soil samples with lead levels above health-based 
screening thresholds from parcels with intact homes downwind of the Eaton Fire.

The final findings also confirmed localized chemical impacts to soil above health-
based screening thresholds are present in the Palisades fire area, but there is no evidence 
of widespread contamination from fire-related chemicals.

Methodology:

The County’s soil sampling was conducted by Roux Associates, Inc., between February 
18, 2025 and March 26, 2025. Roux conducted soil and ash sampling for levels of harmful 
substances that may be present after the recent wildfires—such as heavy metals, 
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dioxins/furans – on representative samples 
from various parcels in different areas and with different property conditions in and 
around the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire Regions. Soil samples were collected throughout 
a sampling grid of each fire area from destroyed and intact properties within the 
burn areas, as well as from properties just outside the burn areas, and results were 
compared to current California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) 
residential soil screening level thresholds.

Eaton Fire

The entire Eaton Fire Region consists of 70 sampling grids, with 23 of those sampling 
grids containing intact homes (i.e., Minor/Affected Parcels, No Damage Parcels, Outside 
Fire Boundary Parcels). Of the 23 sampling grids for parcels with intact homes, 10 
had average grid concentrations greater than the DTSC residential soil screening level 
for lead of 80 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). The identification of high frequency 
lead exceedances in soil samples from intact parcels downwind of the Eaton Fire is 
consistent with reports of elevated lead in air samples collected in the days immediately 
following the fire. The source of lead in the fire is reasonably expected to be from 
the burning of homes with lead-based paint, which was common prior to 1979. The 
University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate reported that more than 
70% of the houses within the Eaton Fire Region were built before 1979.

The average grid concentration for lead from the representative sampling of intact 
homes within the 10 grids that exceeded the residential screening level ranged from 
80.2 mg/kg to 167 mg/kg.

However, because there are many potential sources of lead in soil in the Los Angeles 
area, additional assessments may help understand how much of the lead found in the 
samples came from the 2025 wildfires versus other sources.

Palisades Fire

The results for the Palisades Fire Region did not identify any large-scale fire-related 
soil impacts, including for lead. Within the Palisades Fire Region, testing identified 
two isolated areas where there are sample exceedances (i.e., cadmium and thallium in 
one area; arsenic and PAHs in another) above applicable soil screening level thresholds. 
The source of these impacts and whether they are fire-related is unknown at 
this time, but these are not consistent with communitywide impacts from fire-related 
smoke plumes.

Additional Findings

Sampling results of parcels with destroyed structures from both fire areas after the 
United States ArmyCorps of Engineers (USACE) soil/debris removal showed a significant 
reduction in the potential health riskwhere soil removal occurred. Nonetheless, 
results show that these parcels can still have areas where theconcentration of chemicals 
in soil exceed residential screening levels, both in areas where soil removal didnot occur 
and in areas where soils were removed. Some of these observed soil impacts may be 
unrelated to fire-related smoke and ash. Soil handing and management during rebuilding 
should consider how bestto manage surface soils to prevent exposure to impacted 
soils during construction as well as in final landscaping design/installation.

These findings were presented to the public at various Public Health townhall meetings.

This assessment provides a representative analysis of the soil in and around the Fire 
Regions, for different parcel conditions impacted by the fires. Individual parcels may 
have unique factors that result in differences compared to these representative samples. 
The reported results are not intended to imply cleanup or specific remediation is necessary; 
rather, theresults are intended to provide public health data to help identify 
areas that may potentially present a health risk and may require additional evaluation.

Those with concerns about their specific property may want to test their soil and/or 
consult an environmental professional about evaluating their property. In all areas with 
on-going fire debris, residents are reminded to take precautions to not inhale, ingest, 
or come into contact with ash, soot, and/or fire debris by using appropriate personal 
protective equipment. Additionally, community members are encouraged to take appropriate 
precautions if your home is in one of the areas where soil sample screening 
thresholds have been exceeded. Residents can refer to Public Health’s Frequently Asked 
Questions for best practices to minimize exposure to these potential hazards.

The full report is available on our website.

WEST SIDE STORY | LA OPERA’S FREE “OPERA IN THE PARK” SIMULCAST 
AT LOMA ALTA PARK

Saturday, September 27, 2025, pre-show activities begin at 4:30pm; broadcast begins 
at 7:30pm

FREE admission | RSVP early for a free gift: LAOpera.org/Park

On Sept 27, LA Opera’s live performance of West Side Story at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 
will be broadcast in real time to a massive outdoor screen at Loma Alta Park.

As the foothills continue their journey of recovery from recent wildfires, Opera in the Park 
offers a chance for neighbors to gather together, celebrate local artistry, and enjoy world-class 
music under the stars. Alongside the broadcast, the evening will showcase local performers and 
arti-sans, bringing Altadena’s creative spirit to center stage.

And in a nod to the story’s legendary rivalry, Altadena tips its hat to the Jets: preshow activities 
include Caltech’s interactive jet propulsion presentations, lawn games, arts and crafts with LA 
Opera Connects, food vendors, live local music, face painting, and more. Meanwhile, over at the 
Santa Monica Pier, the Sharks will have their fun — but here in the foothills, it’s Jets all the way.

Bring blankets or chairs, arrive early to enjoy community activities, and settle in for the big-
screen drama. Subtitles in English and Spanish provided. Outside alcohol and pets are not 
permitted.

Thanks to the generous support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, this simulcast 
is free and open to all — a gift of music, community, and culture for Los Angeles.

EMERGENCY PROTECTIONS IN PLACE UNTIL OCTOBER 
1, 2025 FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, HOTELS, 
AND MOTELS

To support wildfire survivors and ensure access to emergency housing, Executive Order N-28-
25 extends tenancy and occupancy protections to October 1, 2025 for people displaced by the 
wildfires.

The Order allows wildfire evacuees to continue to be considered short-term occupants rather 
than tenants when they stay beyond 30 days in short-term rentals, hotels and motels.

Contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs' Housing and 
Tenant Protections team at 800-593-8222 if you have questions.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 
Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com