After tests found elevated levels of lead in soil near the Eaton Fire burn area, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday to allocate $3 million to help affected property owners conduct more detailed testing.
The county Department of Public Health released test results last week that showed levels of lead above health screening thresholds in the soil at properties downwind from the Eaton Fire.
"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.
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.
The county agency noted that "because there are many potential sources of lead in soil in the Los Angeles area, additional assessments will help understand how much of the lead found in the samples came from the 2025 wildfires versus other sources."
The county is expected to issue a final report in May.
To assist property owners with that work, Board Chair Kathryn Barger introduced Tuesday's motion to make funds available to affected residents -- generally those downwind and within a one-mile radius of the burn zone.
"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," Barger said in a statement.
"I'm aware some of my constituents want to test their soil but are worried about the cost. This motion is about making sure they have access to resources and support to protect their health and their homes," she added.
While her main focus is on Altadena, Barger told KNX New's Craig Fiegener they are leaving the door open to provide similar help to the Palisades fire zone.
"Supervisor [Lindsey] Horvath is my co-author, and so we're going to look across the board," she said. "In the Eaton, what I'm told by public health is because the homes are older...it's probably more prevalent in the Altadena scar area."
According to a Caltech report, over 90% of the houses in Altadena were built before 1975, when lead-based paint was prevalent.
The funds were allocated from the county's Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program settlements. The board also instructed the DPH to contract with testing laboratories and provide assistance to property owners.
The health department said that in all areas with ongoing fire debris, residents are reminded to not inhale, ingest or come into contact with ash, soot, and/or fire debris and to use appropriate personal protective equipment.
"Additionally, community members are encouraged 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," they said.
Additional information on the testing results is available HERE.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok