Now that FEMA has made it clear they will not be testing the soil in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones, university researchers and the L.A. County Public Health Department are stepping in to ease concerns.
The federal agency insists that removing 6 inches of soil is adequate to abate potential toxins. Still, many residents disagree, so LMU, UCLA, and Purdue researchers are teaming up to do free soil and water testing for property owners in the fire areas.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
LMU's Brianne Gilbert told KNX News' Karen Adams that the R&S Kayne Fund is organizing and funding the collective effort. Gilbert said, "Right now, we're in the process of enrolling individuals, homeowners who are interested in having their soil sampled."
Anyone who would like to register can go cap.LA to sign up.
The L.A. Department of Public Health has also begun testing the soil.
"We've asked Roux Associates (an environmental consulting and management firm) to conduct some environmental sampling," Doctor Nichole Quick with the department said. "That's going to be in areas that are both fire-impacted properties in Los Angeles County within and near the Eaton and Palisade fire regions."
Quick says people can find soil, water, and air sampling assessments by a state and local agencies consortium on the health department's website.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok