NBC Expose: State and Federal Government Failures to Address Toxicity in Altadena

NBC News reports that Altadena residents are still finding hazardous contamination, including lead, asbestos, and other heavy metals, in standing homes, yards, and lots more than a year after the Eaton Fire. The article points to EFRU’s November report documenting continued contamination after remediation, underscoring that this is not just a total-loss or debris-removal issue; homes that survived the fire may still be unsafe. The whistleblower claims make the situation even more damning: contractors involved in cleanup reportedly raised concerns about what was left behind and whether properties were properly cleared. That matters because rebuilding is already moving forward while contaminated soil remains unresolved. Families should not be forced to rebuild new homes on land that may still contain hazardous-level contamination, only to live on top of toxic fire fallout that was never fully tested, remediated, or cleared.
Meaningful economic recovery cannot happen on toxicity.
Read the article here.