Federal emergency authorities have moved faster than expected in clearing debris from properties impacted by California’s Eaton and Palisades fires, but NPR has reported that the pace of the cleanup has raised safety concerns among scientists and fire survivors.
According to NPR, the wildfires in January killed 30 people and destroyed over 16,000 structures.
The total property and capital losses from the fires are estimated at $95 billion to $164 billion by UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
The cleanup effort, led by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is reportedly months ahead of schedule.
Originally forecast to take up to 18 months, FEMA has stated that the operation could now conclude as early as July.
However, experts have warned that speed may be compromising thorough soil testing, leaving behind potential contaminants.
Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton told NPR that he is concerned about toxins remaining in the soil after debris is cleared.
He explained that fires can release harmful chemicals from paint, propane tanks, and vehicles into the environment, and these may persist even after surface clearing.
Whelton said: “How do we know that soil is safe? Once a disaster like this happens, a number of things we never thought imaginable show up in our lives.”
He added: “They used to be bound up in paint and now they’re released into the soil and the question is should we let our kids play in that soil.”
Whelton said: “The only way to do that is by testing.”
He explained that soil sampling had been carried out after the Camp Fire, the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, and the 2023 wildfires in Maui.
He said: “It’s unclear to me why this is different but it clearly is and this is a problem towards a safe and rapid rebuilding.”
In a written statement to NPR, a FEMA spokesperson said the agency decided to remove six inches of soil from affected areas based on studies from previous fires.
The agency claimed that this measure would be sufficient to address residual contaminants and improve public safety.
According to the statement, FEMA’s new approach has replaced in-depth soil testing with the six-inch removal rule unless there is an immediate hazard. FEMA declined NPR’s request for an interview.
California’s congressional delegation and Governor Gavin Newsom have asked FEMA to reconsider and reinstate soil testing, but the agency has not changed its stance.
Los Angeles County approved a plan to fund its own soil testing in the Eaton Fire zone.
In the Pacific Palisades, NPR reported that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is seeking private sector support to conduct additional testing that federal authorities are no longer providing.
Bass told NPR: “Speed cannot mean that rebuilding would be done in a sloppy manner or that we would skip steps.”
For some residents affected by the fires, the uncertainty surrounding soil safety has been the deciding factor in abandoning plans to rebuild.
Altadena resident Diana Lieb told NPR that she and her husband had considered rebuilding after their home burned down on January 7, but concerns over soil contamination made them decide to sell their lot.
She said: “It would mean rebuilding a home where my kids are gonna grow up, obviously I don’t want them to be on land that is toxic.”
She added: “There has not been much communication about what is healthy to be around.”
The Lieb family, who bought their home in Altadena in 2015, are now staying with relatives and planning to relocate near their daughters’ new school.
Another resident, Kwynn Perry, told NPR that she and her husband, a school principal, also left Altadena after losing their rental home.
Without insurance, they have had to replace their belongings and now rent a condo at nearly double their previous housing cost.
Perry said: “Every time that they’re cleaning up there, they’re kicking all of that stuff back up into the air as well.”
She added: “Even though we’re in a better place, we still feel like we’re treading water every day.”
NPR has reported that the January wildfires in California caused 30 deaths and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.
UCLA’s Anderson School of Management estimated losses between $95 billion and $164 billion.
FEMA’s debris removal is ahead of schedule, possibly completing by July.
FEMA said it is removing six inches of topsoil instead of conducting full testing.
Purdue University’s Andrew Whelton has raised concerns about lingering toxins.
Whelton said soil testing is standard and was done in Paradise, Colorado, and Maui.
FEMA declined an interview and stated its six-inch rule was based on past data.
California’s governor and congressional delegation appealed FEMA’s decision.
Los Angeles County has approved independent testing for Eaton Fire sites.
Mayor Karen Bass said private funding may be used for Pacific Palisades testing.
Some residents, including Diana Lieb and Kwynn Perry, have decided not to return.
Lieb cited safety concerns and limited communication from officials.
Perry and her husband relocated without insurance and now face higher housing costs.
