Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Pasadena Lawmaker Pushes FEMA for Soil Testing After LA Fires

High lead levels found in nearly half of unscraped areas following Eaton, Palisades blazes

Nearly six months after devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles County neighborhoods, federal lawmakers are pressing emergency officials to address a toxic legacy left behind: soil contaminated with dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals.

Rep. Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and the California 28th District, and 27 other California congressional delegation members sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week demanding comprehensive soil testing and cleanup programs for properties affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The push comes after alarming test results revealed widespread contamination in fire-damaged areas. Los Angeles County health officials found that 27% of soil samples from the Eaton Fire burn zone exceeded California’s residential lead standards. In areas where debris hadn’t been scraped away, that figure jumped to 44%.

Independent testing by The Los Angeles Times confirmed the findings, with some locations showing lead levels more than three times the state’s safety benchmark.

The contamination poses particular risks in Altadena, where the Eaton Fire destroyed nearly all structures. About 96% of the homes lost in that community were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned.

“Thousands of homeowners now face the difficult choice of incurring the significant personal expense of soil testing and remediation, or living with the potential threat of long-term exposure to hazardous substances,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to FEMA.

The fires destroyed nearly 16,000 structures combined, leaving thousands of property owners potentially facing costly soil remediation before they can rebuild.

Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children, causing what experts describe as irreversible cognitive, developmental and behavioral damage. The toxic metal can accumulate in soil when lead-painted structures burn, concentrating in areas where homes once stood.

The congressional delegation is asking FEMA to provide federal funding for voluntary soil testing for all affected property owners, establish cleanup programs for contaminated sites, and work with health agencies to provide guidance for safe rebuilding practices.

“Without these steps, disaster survivors are being left with an undue financial burden and potential health risks,” the lawmakers stated.

Los Angeles County launched its own soil testing program in May, offering free testing to residents in and around the Eaton Fire burn area. But Chu said federal involvement is crucial to reach all affected homeowners.

“This program is a critical first step, but we need FEMA’s full partnership to ensure all affected homeowners – including the thousands whose homes were destroyed in the fires – have access to testing as well as remediation,” Chu said.

The letter represents one of the largest coordinated efforts by California’s congressional delegation to address long-term fire recovery issues. Signatories include representatives from districts spanning from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego County.

FEMA has not yet responded to the lawmakers’ request. The agency has been conducting debris removal operations in fire-affected areas but has not committed to broader soil testing or remediation programs.