To inform those living in and around the Pallisard and Eton fire zones, a Los Angeles-based organization is leading efforts to sample soil at more than 1,000 facilities.
The initiative, Community Action Project LA, brings together multiple universities to help test soil and water for wildfire contaminants, and provides homeowners with data to make informed decisions during the recovery process.
FEMA recently announced that it will not test the soil due to contamination after cleanup. This involves removing the top 6 inches of soil from the burned properties.
After Pallisard and Eaton smashed Rown County, many worry about the dangerous wreckage that spreads into the burn zone and the long-term health consequences.
“We have to go back and live there. It’s really scary to know what the contaminants we live in,” says Tracy Kin, who lives in the fire zone of Parisades. I said that.
Quinn was expelled after his home was severely smoke damaged during a Palisade fire. She said she is concerned about wildfire pollutants scattered throughout the area and is grateful that Cap.LA will investigate LA County for testing for contaminants.
“The goal is to be able to return this data to homeowners. And if homeowners want to talk to elected officials, leaders and community leaders, they can push. Loyola Marymount University’s Brianne Gilbert, managing director of Research LA at the Undergraduate Research Center, said:
LMU is working with UCLA and Purdue University to collect soil and water samples from more than 1,000 homes within and around the combustion zone from both Palisades and Eaton Fire.
“We had well over 500 people who already signed up, so that’s a great response from the research side,” Gilbert said. “But that means there are a lot of people who are really, very worried and want to know what’s going on with their property.”
For homeowners like Quinn, information is essential in the recovery process.
“We really hope this will be the place to start collecting data, not just to protect us here in Los Angeles, but as we are a future community that is very likely to experience the same thing, unfortunately. I will,” Quinn said.
Firezone homeowners can sign up for this free test. This test is funded by the R&S Kayne Foundation by filling out a registration form.
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