After recent soil sampling revealed elevated amounts of lead near the area devastated in the Eaton Fire, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday OK’d $3 million for further testing.
The funds will be used to support the cost of soil testing by impacted residential landowners, generally located to the south and within a 1-mile radius of the burn area.
The LA County Department of Public Health last week reported that levels of lead were above health screening thresholds in the soil at properties downwind from the Eaton blaze.
“The source of lead in the fire is reasonably expected to be from the burning of homes with lead-based paint, which was common prior to 1979,” according to the department. “Caltech reported that more than 90% of the houses in Altadena were built before 1975.”
Because many other sources of lead in soil exist in the Los Angeles area, additional testing and analysis “will help understand how much of the lead found in the samples came from the 2025 wildfires versus other sources,” health officials said.
A final report on lead testing is due out in May, officials said.
“The findings shared by the Department of Public Health are concerning for our residents who live near the Eaton Fire burn area and are now facing the possibility of soil contamination,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “I’m aware some of my constituents want to test their soil but are worried about the cost. I want to make sure they have access to resources and support to protect their health and their homes.”
The health department advised residents in fire-affected areas to not inhale, ingest or come into contact with ash, soot and fire debris and to use appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and respirators.
Officials encouraged residents “to review the soil sampling results and consider taking appropriate precautions if your home is in one of the areas where soil sample screening thresholds have been exceeded.”
The funds were allocated from the county’s Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program settlements. The board also directed the health department to contract with testing laboratories and assist property owners.
More information on the testing for fire-related contaminants is available at publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire/post_fire_assessment_plan.htm.
