ALTADENA, Calif. — In response to alarming lead levels, an Altadena mother has initiated chelation therapy for her son. Geochemists are now required to don respirators and full-body suits before entering homes affected by contamination. A filmmaker has invested thousands in testing and remediation on his property, which once served as his home, to address heavy metal contamination—efforts not included in any government cleanup initiative.

Sixteen months post-Eaton Fire, the residents of Altadena are resorting to drastic measures to tackle severe contamination from toxic compounds like arsenic and asbestos affecting their homes and health. This pollution stems from an unprecedented urban firestorm which devastated numerous homes, releasing heavy metals into the air.

Despite efforts to clear charred debris and repair homes, tests indicated dangerously high lead levels—enough to threaten children’s health.

Jennifer Rochlin, a potter and single mother, shared, “I purchased a lead test from Amazon for $75 and after several tests, I found lead everywhere,” including in her HVAC system. Her insurance provider initially refused to authorize a lead inspection at her home.

Rochlin has relocated twice, incurring costs to replace absorbent household items like mattresses.

The events surrounding the Eaton Fire have resulted in many residents of Altadena, a suburb in northeastern Los Angeles, still not returning home. Nearly two-thirds of residents were adversely affected by the fire, leading to prolonged stays in temporary housing, creating financial burdens for individuals and insurance companies as policies expire.

Uncertainty surrounding the timeline for rebuilding has compelled academics, independent scientists, and community advocacy groups to undertake their own assessments of the contamination. Below is an account of these findings and the conflicts they incite, based on interviews with numerous affected residents, scientists addressing the pollution crisis, debris removal workers, local officials, and insurance representatives.

The shared experiences highlight the inadequacies of existing systems for responding to fire-related disasters, including insurance frameworks, restoration services, local governance, and environmental regulations.

“This was an urban fire, and the contamination we encountered was unlike anything seen in previous events,” stated Dawn Fanning, managing director of the nonprofit Eaton Fire Residents United.

California currently lacks safety standards for indoor contamination from various hazardous substances prevalent in Altadena, aside from lead and asbestos. This absence complicates the decision-making process for homeowners and insurers regarding when it is safe to return to their properties. Moreover, testing companies don’t adhere to consistent methodologies. Areas affected by fire were not subjected to soil testing by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, leaving residents with significant information gaps regarding potential hazards.

Whistleblowers from the Corps involved in the cleanup have expressed concerns that communities may face lingering soil contamination issues.

Both individuals, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, indicated that the cleanup process was rushed and plagued by inconsistencies. One whistleblower noted an alarming amount of debris left behind compared to past wildfire responses.

“This cleanup is subpar. We typically remove everything, going fence to fence, but this time ‘contaminants are still present,’” one individual remarked.

A spokesperson for the Corps stated that the cleanup’s scope, including the criteria for debris removal, was established by FEMA in coordination with California state officials and Los Angeles County.

“The assigned mission encompassed the removal of structural ash and debris, along with soil in the top six inches of the structural foundation,” the spokesperson clarified. “Soil testing was not included in the USACE mission directive from FEMA.”

The Hidden Soil Threat

Altadena embodies the intersection of nature and urban life.

Nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains, this area radiates warm terracotta hues at dusk, with the silhouettes of downtown Los Angeles visible in the distance.

The January 2025 Eaton Fire devastated 9,400 homes and structures, releasing smoke laden with lithium from electric car batteries, arsenic from antiquated wood, and asbestos from insulation. Winds during thefire reached up to 90 mph, propelling the flames.

Alireza Namayande, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, collected smoke samples during the fire within the plume at Pasadena Park. His findings indicated that most particulates were nanoparticles, measuring one-thousandth the width of a human hair—capable of penetrating lungs, bloodstream, and brain.