California’s Chief Disaster Officer, Nancy Ward, has formally requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reconsider its recent decision to skip post-cleanup soil testing following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. This plea comes after FEMA announced it would not conduct soil testing, a measure traditionally employed to ensure that properties meet California’s safety standards regarding toxic chemicals.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have ravaged the area, destroying approximately 16,000 structures. Federal contractors are currently engaged in debris removal and the extraction of a 6-inch layer of topsoil from the affected properties. However, the lack of soil testing has raised alarm among local officials and residents who worry that hazardous contaminants may remain undetected in the soil, posing health risks to returning residents and construction workers.
In her letter to FEMA, Ward emphasized the potential dangers of proceeding without adequate soil testing. She pointed out that contaminants from the fires could linger undetected, threatening not only the health of individuals involved in rebuilding efforts but also the quality of groundwater and surface water. Ward’s correspondence marks a significant moment of discontent from California officials regarding FEMA’s cleanup strategy.
FEMA’s federal coordinating officer, Curtis Brown, promptly responded to Ward’s concerns, stating that soil testing could significantly delay recovery efforts and increase costs. Brown indicated that while FEMA would not conduct soil testing, it would not prohibit state or local governments, or individual property owners, from performing their own tests. However, he clarified that FEMA would only reimburse costs for soil testing if results could be directly linked to the wildfires.
Despite the rapid progress in debris removal, some residents and local leaders have expressed skepticism about the thoroughness of the cleanup efforts, particularly in terms of soil safety. For nearly two decades, soil sampling has been a standard procedure after major wildfire cleanups in California, aimed at preventing residents from returning to contaminated sites. Previous incidents, such as the 2018 Camp fire, revealed that a significant portion of the cleaned properties still contained toxic chemicals even after soil removal.
Ward’s letter highlighted the findings from past cleanups, which showed that contamination could extend beyond the removed topsoil layer. She argued that soil testing is an essential step in the recovery process to ensure public safety.
In his reply, Brown reiterated FEMA’s stance, describing the agency’s current practices as efficient and protective of public health. He stated that the agency is confident in its approach, which prioritizes speed in the recovery process while maintaining safety standards.
As the cleanup continues, the debate over the necessity of soil testing remains a contentious issue, with many advocating for more stringent measures to protect the health of those affected by the wildfires.