SAFETY INFORMATION

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.

Multiple Detections of Airborne Asbestos in Altadena

AQMD has detected airborne asbestos on 5 separate days at multiple locations in Altadena. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Debris crews are required to spray down material to suppress toxins, but rising temperatures increase the risk, and existing dust control has already proven insufficient. EFRU has raised these concerns with the EPA and reported the issue to OSHA, which has yet to respond. If you know someone who’s returned to the burn area, please share this information. Access the AQMD reports and the dates of asbestos detection here.

Know Your Rights Video from Senator Perez

Senator Perez addresses:

  • What to do if you're at home, at work, or in public

  • What can bystanders do

  • What to do if you or a loved one is detained

  • Watch the video here.

Recognize the Signs and Report Exploitation, Human Trafficking

Natural disasters, like the recent LA wildfires, create chaos and displacement leaving many people vulnerable to exploitation including human trafficking. People seeking work after a disaster should be cautious about job offers that sound too good to be true. Human traffickers use false promises of high wages and effortless jobs to lure people into dangerous situations. If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave, please report it to:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Text: 233-733 (Be Free) or Phone: (888) 373-7888
And/or
Department of Consumer and Business Affairs' Office of Labor Equity
Email: humantrafficking@dcba.lacounty.gov or Phone: (800) 593-8222

Safety Zone from Abuse & Trafficking

If you (or a young person you know) need help getting away from an abusive situation that involves human trafficking, exploitation, or abuse, then step inside any DPSS office for immediate assistance from trained DPSS Safe Youth Zone Liaisons. Look for the Safe Youth Zone signs outside DPSS offices. Learn more about Safe Youth Zones at Safe

Multiple Detections of Airborne Asbestos in Altadena

AQMD has detected airborne asbestos on 5 separate days at multiple locations in Altadena. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Debris crews are required to spray down material to suppress toxins, but rising temperatures increase the risk, and existing dust control has already proven insufficient. EFRU has raised these concerns with the EPA and reported the issue to OSHA, which has yet to respond. If you know someone who’s returned to the burn area, please share this information. Access the AQMD reports and the dates of asbestos detection here.Youth Zone Conversations Podcasts or click here for a list of DPSS offices.

When to Return - LA County Public Health

Watch the moment when LA County Public Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis explains that ideally residents should wait until Phase 2 is complete before returning home.

Immigration Resources from NDLON & CHIRLA

Know Your Rights.
Immigration Assistance Referral Line: 888-624-4752
Legal Assistance: 213-201-3797

Community Members Vital to our Recovery are Being Targeted

As ICE activity has increased in and around the Eaton Fire burn scar, day laborers, many of whom are part of mixed-status communities, are facing serious threats to their safety while performing essential remediation work in our neighborhoods. These workers are helping remove debris from destroyed lots as well as clean and restore homes impacted by toxic contamination. Yet now they’re being forced to choose between their safety and their livelihoods.
How You Can Help:
A Go Fund Me organized by Fire Poppy has been launched to provide direct support to these workers, helping cover lost wages, legal resources, and other urgent needs. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.

EFRU needs POST REMEDIATION industrial hygienist tests

Did you submit a pre remediation test to EFRU? Or perhaps you didn’t do a pre remediation test and only did a post remediation test? 

Either way, EFRU is asking the community to submit post remediation reports. Submitting your indoor environmental test to EFRU helps raise awareness of home contamination, supports advocacy for insurance and government coverage, and strengthens the push for more funding and remediation in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. All personal information is redacted, and test locations are mapped only to the nearest cross street to protect privacy. Your submission helps 

  • inform the public

  • engage the media and 

  • push for stronger local remediation efforts. 

Thank you for supporting our mapping effort:
https://www.efru.la/share-testing

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Advisory

The LA County Sheriff’s Department issued the following statement:

"The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena Station is proud to announce the launch of a new community tool: AltadenaTips@lasd.org, a dedicated email address for residents to report suspicious activity and submit photos or videos that may assist in criminal investigations.

This new initiative is part of the department’s ongoing commitment to community-based policing and increasing transparency and collaboration between law enforcement and the public.

Residents are encouraged to:

  • Send photos or videos capturing suspicious or criminal activity

  • Include the location (street address or cross streets)

  • Provide their name and phone number (optional)

  • Remain anonymous if preferred

“Our goal is to empower the community to be proactive in public safety,” said the Altadena Station Captain. “We view our residents as partners — extra eyes and ears who can help us act quickly and effectively to keep Altadena safe.”

Submissions to AltadenaTips@lasd.org will be reviewed by investigators and may support ongoing investigations or help identify emerging issues in the community.

For more information, visit https://lasd.org/altadena
@aldlasd: Instagram
AltadenaSheriffsStation: Facebook
or contact the station directly at (626) 798-1131.

JACC: Heart Failure

Associations Between Urinary Metal Levels and Incident Heart Failure: A Multi-Cohort Analysis.

Read the study here.

Free Blood Lead Testing

Department of Public Health is offering free blood lead testing for those concerned about exposure to lead from the recent wildfires.  

  • Residents can visit their medical provider

  • Dial 1-800-524-5323 to request a free appointment through Quest Labs

Visit one of the community events listed here where Public Health is offering free blood lead testing

If You See Something, Say Something!

Please use this form to report any events that you think might pose a risk to public health. Examples might include:

  • “Dust Clouds” from heavy machinery on the road (e.g., debris trucks, garbage trucks, street sweepers)

  • “Dust Clouds” at debris removal sites or staging areas

  • Uncovered debris removal trucks

  • NO taped perimeter around debris removal site

  • NO watering/DRY debris removal

  • Little or NO PPE on debris removal workers (for safety, all workers must wear full tyvek while removing debris)

  • Street sweepers with little or no water

  • Leaf blowers in the burn zone

  • Outdoor air monitors registering a daily average >35 pm 2.5 or > 150 pm 10

  • OSHA violations

We aim to lift the voices of our community to ensure a safe return home and rebuild. Our voices together are louder and more impactful. Let's make a difference!