Monday, October 26, 2026

Barger Seeks Another Postponement in Decision to End Eaton Fire Health Emergency

[Supervisor Kathryn Barger via Facebook]

Los Angeles County public health officials say emergency cleanup measures are no longer needed, but Altadena’s supervisor wants a decision postponed until Nov. 24

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is seeking another postponement of a decision to end the public health emergency declared after the January 2025 wildfires, including the Eaton Fire that devastated Altadena.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider the termination Tuesday, Oct. 27, but the official agenda identifies Barger’s request to continue the matter until Nov. 24. The proposal appears as Item 9.

Barger represents the Fifth Supervisorial District, which includes Pasadena and Altadena, where residents continue rebuilding following the fire.

The Department of Public Health first brought its termination recommendation to supervisors June 9. The proposal has since been continued from six meetings — June 9, June 16, July 14, Aug. 4, Sept. 1 and Sept. 29.

At the June 9 meeting, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath requested the initial postponement. Barger subsequently requested additional continuances, including the move from Sept. 29 to Oct. 27.

The local health emergency was declared Jan. 10 by County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis and ratified by supervisors Jan. 14. It authorized extraordinary public health measures to address exposure to wildfire ash, smoke, hazardous materials and debris.

Among those measures were restrictions on power air blowers and requirements intended to prevent unsafe removal, transportation and disposal of wildfire debris.

The Department of Public Health continues to list two wildfire-specific emergency health officer orders: a prohibition on power air blowers within the Eaton and Palisades fire perimeters, revised Jan. 23, and an order addressing unsafe fire debris removal and disposal, revised March 24.

County public health officials say the emergency measures are no longer necessary because conditions associated with wildfire response and debris cleanup have changed.

The department has also emphasized that ending the emergency declaration would not halt rebuilding or environmental health work in fire-affected communities.

“The end of the declaration does not affect ongoing recovery, rebuilding, environmental health assessments, or public information efforts,” the department states in its published explanation.

Public Health says it will continue working with scientific experts, community organizations and academic partners on environmental health assessments and will continue sharing information through its post-fire environmental data dashboard.

The proposed termination concerns the local health emergency declaration, not the county’s separate wildfire-related local emergency proclamation. The latter was listed for continuation on the Board’s Oct. 20 agenda.

California Health and Safety Code Section 101080 requires supervisors to review the need for a local health emergency at least every 30 days and terminate the declaration when conditions warrant.

The termination proposal requires three affirmative votes. If approved, the county would forward the termination resolution to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Barger’s request does not itself constitute a Board decision. Supervisors must still determine whether to grant another continuation or act on the health department’s recommendation.

The Board of Supervisors meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Board Hearing Room 381B at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.

Residents wishing to address the Board may register beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday at publiccomment.lacounty.gov. Remote participants may call (213) 444-2600 using the telephone number provided during registration. Written comments may be submitted at publiccomment.bos.lacounty.gov.