Saturday, November 8, 2025

Eaton Fire Health Risks Cross City Lines

Contamination concerns from Altadena blaze reach Pasadena as residents fear environmental hazards ignore borders

Environmental hazards identified after the Eaton Fire don’t stop at Altadena’s borders. Some Pasadena residents are growing increasingly concerned.

The fire sparked in January. Now, months later, its health impacts continue to emerge.

Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU) held a press conference Friday to reveal their research into ongoing contamination in affected homes.

Lead, asbestos and heavy metals were found throughout the disaster zone, the group said. The contamination persists nearly 10 months after the blaze.

EFRU is demanding new standards. The group wants “clearance before occupancy” protocols implemented.

“Join us in calling on elected officials to enforce a simple standard: clearance before occupancy,” the EFRU said in their statement. “Each home that survived the Eaton Fire should be required to achieve comprehensive clearance status before residents … move back in.”

While the organization is based in Altadena, the issue extends beyond one community. Pasadena residents living near the fire’s edge face similar threats, the group said.

The group pointed out that environmental contamination doesn’t respect city lines, saying that reality is deepening fears among residents in both communities.

The January fire’s reach affects multiple neighborhoods, the EFRU said. Those closest to disaster zones remain particularly vulnerable.