GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
Soil Guidance
On Friday, 8/22, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released new soil contamination guidance for communities affected by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. The guidance offers recommendations for reducing exposure, but provides no funding for remediation support. Full details are available here.
Dr. Andrew Whelton of Purdue has flagged serious flaws in the guidance, including a chromium threshold set 50 times higher than DTSC’s own hazardous waste standard and the omission of lithium, despite the many electric cars burned in the fires. His full analysis is outlined in a letter to Governor Newsom, available here.
EFRU is closely following the work of scientists studying soil remediation through bioremediation paired with microbiology, with demonstrated results across multiple sites in the Eaton Fire area. While the State currently promotes soil capping as its lowest-cost option—which only offers temporary protection—bioremediation with microbiology is producing data with contamination mitigation beneath the surface. This approach could offer a more effective long-term solution than capping, while remaining significantly more affordable than excavation. Stay tuned for details.
Eaton Fire Residents May Lose Out with SCE New Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program
On Wed 7/23, the LA Times reported SCE will launch a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program this fall for Eaton Fire victims, offering faster claims but not admitting liability yet. Critics warn payments may fall short and urge survivors to get legal advice. Many residents and business owners remain unaware of smoke and ash contamination in their standing structures, risking exclusion of testing and remediation costs from their claims. Read the article here.
Submit Questions on the Remediation of your Destroyed Lot or Surviving Home
If you missed the 6/3 Speaker session WUI Recovery Q&A with Environmental Experts, you can still submit your questions to Dr. Andrew Whelton and Eric Bollen by sending them to efru.members@gmail.com. Inquiries will be delivered in a group message and responses will be sent back to submitters.
SGV Habitat for Humanity Offers Remediation & Repairs, Full Home Rebuilds, or ADU Construction on Your Property
SGV Habitat for Humanity is focused on providing long-term solutions for those affected by the Eaton Fire. If you need home remediation & repairs, a complete rebuild of your home, or are interested in learning more about adding an ADU to your property, please complete their Home Damage and Assessment Form at: https://bit.ly/rebuildneeds.
Someone from their team will get back to you with more information and next steps after they receive your completed intake form. If you have questions, please email firerelief@sgvhabitat.org.
GER3 Offers Testing & Remediation for Uninsured/Underinsured Homeowners
Additional funding has been allocated for smoke remediation work, enabling GER3 to complete around ten more full end-to-end projects, some in partnership with SVG Habitat and some independently. Applicants must meet criteria such as low income or have limited insurance. The support includes assessment, pre-testing, remediation, post-testing, and repairs for standing homes affected by smoke damage. Access the application here.
United Policyholder Assistance
Guidance and support from United Policyholders is available 24/7 at www.uphelp.org/2025cawildfires.
If there is a topic you'd like United Policyholders to cover in a future webinar, please email info@uphelp.org.
United Policyholders Survey
United Policyholders is asking wildfire survivors to complete their 6-month insurance and recovery survey. Your feedback helps track recovery challenges, guide future webinars, and strengthen advocacy for insurance reforms. Make your voice heard and help shape resources for your community by filling out the UP Survey at www.uphelp.org/survey.
The State Farm Investigation
Join the EFSN 7000+ signed letter calling for Gov Newsom to step in and address State Farm’s second push for a 30% increase while after 6 months since the Eaton Fire, still having not paid hundreds of Eaton Fire claims, causing policyholders great financial harm: https://www.efsurvivors.net/hold-insurers-accountable-state-farm-lara
Eaton Fire Survivors Network
EFSN is leading the effort to expose the bad faith practices of State Farm in providing for Eaton Fire and Palisades claims. To follow their efforts, sign up for the EFSN newsletter here: efsurvivors.net.
EFSN has a Discord with 2500 fire survivors sharing their experiences and numerous local organizations sharing their information. You can join the Discord by going here: https://discord.com/invite/Y5atRPvc3V
Insurers Hiring Second Opinion Industrial Hygienists
Residents are raising concerns about insurers using firms like Clark Seif Clark (CSC) to dispute previous industrial hygienist (IH) reports. If this applies to you, consider two steps:
Watch the 5/2/25 EFRU Speaker Event featuring attorney Dylan Schaffer for guidance available at efru.la/speaker-events.
Submit your contaminant testing reports to Dr. Andrew Whelton of Purdue University, an expert on wildfire-related contamination. He’s conducting a study on contamination testing, including indoor air, surfaces, pool water, drinking water, soil, and can identify inconsistencies between your original and insurer-commissioned reports. Learn more about the study he’s conducting on the practices of contaminant testing and submit your test to WUI fire expert Dr. Whelton by clicking here.
How to Report Your Insurer:
1. CA Dept of Insurance
You can file a complaint with the CA Dept of Insurance by reaching them on their toll‐free Hotline at (800) 927‐4357 or visit them online at www.insurance.ca.gov.
2. Assemblymember Harabedian
Assemblymember Harabedian's office has invited anyone whose insurance provider is denying their request for pre-remediation testing to contact District Director Declan Floyd in Harabedian's office at (626) 351-1917 or email at Declan.Floyd@asm.ca.gov.
3. California Watchdog Fire
If your insurer is not being fair, provide the evidence public advocates need to hold our insurers accountable. File a complaint with the Consumer Watchdog Fire.
4. American Policyholder Association
You can join the American Policyholder Association for no cost and report insurance fraud for the APA to investigate. Join the APA for free and report fraud with the American Policyholder Association.
Discover ways you can shine a spotlight on insurance companies acting in bad faith. Your story can help raise public awareness and encourage accountability.
Pepperdine Caruso Law’s Disaster Relief Clinic
Free, pro bono programs to support Los Angeles residents affected by the 2024 and 2025 wildfires. The clinic, staffed by supervising attorneys and law students, assists with FEMA applications and appeals, insurance issues, renters’ concerns, and related non-litigation matters. If a case cannot be handled directly, referrals will be made—with client consent—to pro bono lawyers. Public events and online session recordings are available, and those seeking help can submit a request form to be contacted by the clinic team. For more information, visit the Pepperdine site here.