Saturday, February 21, 2026

Soil Summit Saturday Brings Testing, Remediation Training to Altadena Burn Site

Two-day event offers hands-on workshops as hundreds of properties show elevated lead levels more than a year after Eaton Fire

A two-day soil summit offering hands-on contamination testing and remediation training is to begin Saturday at a burn site in Altadena, where hundreds of properties continue to show elevated lead levels more than a year after the Eaton Fire.

The LA Soil Summit, organized by Pasadena-area nonprofit Community 3.0x and Earthstock Enterprises, aims to give residents practical skills for assessing and treating contaminated soil on their properties, according to the organizers. The first day features field demonstrations at 3300 Lake Ave. in Altadena. A virtual session with expert panels is scheduled for Sunday.

The event comes as Los Angeles County Department of Public Health data shows 571 properties in and around the Eaton Fire burn zone tested with lead levels between 81 and 200 parts per million — a range that can pose health risks to children and pregnant people with long-term exposure.

More than 90 percent of the homes that burned in the Eaton Fire had been built before 1975 and likely contained lead-based paint, according to Caltech research.

Professional soil remediation can cost $7,000 to $15,000 per property depending on lot size, according to the DENA Soil Project, a coalition of soil scientists and educators working in Altadena. The summit organizers say their workshops are intended to help residents learn do-it-yourself approaches.

“Healing the land and healing the community go hand-in-hand,” Greg Apodaca, chief explorer and CEO of Community 3.0x, said in a statement posted to the organization’s website. “We’re asking those affected by the Altadena and Palisades fires to voice their concerns so we can provide direction and resources where possible.”

Michael DiMartino, founder of Earthstock Enterprises, called the summit “a movement to bridge the gap between ecological disaster and community-led healing,” according to the same statement.

Saturday’s in-person session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes an overview of soil testing methods, a presentation on results from 40 sites, and a lunch break with remediation demonstrations, according to the event agenda posted on Eventbrite. Tickets are $25. The Sunday virtual session, scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. on Zoom, is free and will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions.

The summit is taking place as the federal government ramps up its own testing efforts in Altadena. In January 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would test soil at 100 properties within the Eaton Fire burn scar, with results expected in April 2026, according to a statement from Rep. Judy Chu. The EPA’s stated goals include documenting lead levels after debris removal and establishing best practices for future wildfire response.

Community 3.0x is a Pasadena-based organization focused on environmental solutions, with Outward Bound Adventures serving as its fiscal sponsor, according to the group’s website. Earthstock Enterprises, led by DiMartino, focuses on regenerative ecology and soil health. The organizers describe the summit as the first in a series of planned environmental events.

Limited food & seating so Pre-registration is required.

• Bring a blanket, bundle up (its chilly)
• Bring a mug to keep your bev warm-
• Masks provided, wear plain attire—-
• Bring your soil samples to be tested

Additional information, including agendas for both days, is posted at community30x.com/lasoilsummit.