SOIL QUALITY MONITORING
Purdue Pool and Soil Recovery Videos
Access a list of webinars from Purdue that include guidance on pool recovery and soil recovery as well as an overview of household experiences, needs, and perceptions after the fire. Learn about past and upcoming scheduled events on property testing and remediation here.
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.
New Post-Fire Assessment Results from LACPH
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has released updated results on its Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Assessment Dashboard. Final findings from soil testing in the Eaton and Palisades fire areas confirm a higher percentage of soil samples with lead above health-based screening thresholds on parcels with intact homes downwind of the Eaton Fire. In the Palisades area, localized chemical impacts were found, though no evidence of widespread contamination was identified.
Public Health emphasizes that these results are not directives for cleanup but provide data to highlight areas where potential health risks may exist. Residents in impacted areas are encouraged to consult the dashboard, consider soil testing, and follow safety precautions to avoid contact with ash, soot, or fire debris. For guidance on minimizing exposure, visit Public Health’s Frequently Asked Questions. The full report is on their website.
A FORMAL REQUEST
On May 4, 2025 twelve academics sent a letter to Governor Newsom asking the state to follow the same protocols it did for the Thomas Fire in 2017, the Woolsey Fire in 2018, and the Mountain Fire in 2024, and cover the costs for soil testing and remediation for the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire.
THREE OPTIONS FOR FREE SOIL TESTING
CAP.LA (Community Action Project)
CAP.LA is asking owners of properties near the Palisades and Eaton Fires for permission to collect soil and water samples in their yards, gardens, and/or pools to test for possible wildfire pollutants. To sign up and learn about future pop-ups as they’re scheduled, fill out this form.
Questions? Email info@cap.la
LA County Department of Public Health Soil Testing Program
To have your soil tested in Altadena for lead contamination related to the Eaton Fire, you can participate in this free program. They provides instructions on soil sampling, and you can drop off your samples at the One Stop Permit Center in Altadena. Results will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days.
Here's how to get your soil tested:
1. Check Eligibility:
Determine if your property is within the target area for the Eaton Fire soil testing program. You can find a map on the LA County Department of Public Health website.
2. Collect Soil Samples:
Follow the provided instructions for soil sampling. Youlll need to collect soil from four different locations in your yard and combine them into one composite sample.
3. Submit Samples:
Take your soil sample to the One Stop Permit Center, located at 464 W. Woodbury Road, Suite 210, in Altadena. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
4. Receive Results:
You'll receive your soil test results via email within 7- 10 business days. The results will include a link to guidance on interpreting the results and possible next steps.
CLEAN (Contaminant Level Evaluation and Analysis for Neighborhoods)
Contaminant Level Evaluation and Assessment for Neighborhoods (CLEAN) is a rapid response soil testing program from the USC Department of Earth Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, and Public Exchange. This is a developing initiative to quickly evaluate and communicate the levels of lead contamination in soils and playgrounds in fire-impacted areas in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires in January.
Anyone in Los Angeles who is concerned about the impacts of the fires on soil may participate in this program, at no cost.
To test soil samples rapidly and provide the public with information as soon as possible, this program is currently only testing soil samples for lead contamination. Lead is hazardous to human health, and testing results can identify areas where more in-depth investigation or testing is needed.
CLEAN is not testing for contaminants other than lead at this time, but we are actively seeking funding and partners to allow us to do that. And we will keep this site updated with any changes to the scope of the project.
The CLEAN project is free to participants. We will never ask you to pay for your sample to be processed.
For more information and guidelines visit their website.
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What you need to get started:
Latex gloves
(K)N95 mask
1 or 2 sandwich or quart-sized baggies that can be sealed
Small shovel, trowel, or plastic spoon
Phone to take pictures (optional but preferred)
How to collect a composite soil sample:
1) Put on your gloves and mask to protect yourself from any possible exposure to pollutants from soil
2) Visually review the property and identify areas from different locations to take soil samples (the purpose of a composite sample is to choose multiple spots so that the soil is not just from one spot on the property)
3) Take a spoonful of dirt from within the top 2 inches of soil from a spot and put it in plastic bag
4) Repeat this scooping from 15-20 spots throughout the property with the soil all in the same baggie
5) (Optional but preferred) After taking your sample, please take one or more pictures of your property (maximum of 10). If we get any abnormal results, these pictures could help us understand any possible causes. Ideally, please take pictures that do the following:
a. Describe the condition of the property
b. Show where samples are taken
When you’re finished collecting the samples, please complete this brief online form to share a little about your property and upload your pictures if you have them: https://mylmu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eE88EEGKXohBZoa. Please complete the form before the drop-off to save time.
Additional notes for samples:
a. When doing each scoop, think teaspoon size, not heaping tablespoon size.
b. Please try to avoid picking up rocks or plant debris with the soil. If you find rocks or leaves, please remove them from the sample if possible.
c. Soil with burned debris (if any) is ok.
d. If you find excessive debris related to fire, you are welcome to collect it in a second, separate plastic bag.
e. If you are bringing samples for any other property other than your own, please be sure those homeowners have completed both the original soil enrollment form and the second form about their property. Otherwise, samples cannot be accepted.
f. One set of results per property will be sent to each homeowner.
What happens next:
1) We will analyze the metal concentration in soil samples using handheld XRF for metals including lead, arsenic, selenium, etc. The soil samples will be dried and homogenized before taking measurements using XRF. The results will be sent within the month to the email address on file.
2) Results will be anonymized, aggregated, and mapped on the CAP.LA website soon after.
3) Also, the samples will be archived so that, if more funding is secured in the future, additional testing could be done for more pollutants using more advanced instruments. If any further analysis is conducted, we will notify homeowners with the updated results.