LA wildfire survivors face toxic contamination in homes

Contaminants Persist in Altadena Homes After Wildfires

ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) — A sign on a front door of an Altadena home reads, “DANGER: Lead Work Area.” It warns of potential harm to fertility and unborn children, as well as damage to the central nervous system.

Block after block, reminders of lingering contaminants are visible.

House cleaners, hazardous waste workers, and homeowners wear masks, respirators, gloves, and hazmat suits as they clean homes that were not completely destroyed.

It has been a year filled with heartbreak since the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history scorched neighborhoods and displaced tens of thousands. Two fires ignited on January 7, 2025, killing at least 31 people and destroying nearly 17,000 structures, including homes, schools, businesses, and places of worship. Rebuilding will take years.

This disaster has caused more trauma for those worried about what remains in their homes.

Indoor Air Quality Concerns

Indoor air quality after wildfires is not well studied. Scientists do not know the long-term health effects of exposure to large urban fires like those in Los Angeles. Some chemicals released are linked to heart disease and lung issues. Exposure to minerals like magnetite is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ash in the area contains a mix of incinerated cars, electronics, paints, furniture, and personal belongings. It may include pesticides, asbestos, plastics, lead, or other heavy metals.

Many homeowners are now living with the hazards left by the fires.

Residents Return to Contaminated Homes

Nina and Billy Malone viewed their home of 20 years as a safe haven. However, smoke, ash, and soot entered their home, leaving harmful lead levels even after professional cleaning. Recent tests showed lead is still present on the wooden floors of their living room and bedroom.

They had to move back in August after their insurance cut off rental assistance.

Since returning, Nina wakes up with a sore throat and headaches. Billy now uses an inhaler for worsening wheezing and congestion. Nina describes their bedroom as smelling “like an ashtray.” She worries about exposure to unregulated contaminants that insurance companies do not test for.

“I don’t feel comfortable in the space,” Nina said, noting that homes across the street burned down.

Data on Lead Levels in Homes

A report from Eaton Fire Residents United, a volunteer group, revealed that six out of ten homes damaged by smoke from the Eaton Fire still have dangerous levels of asbestos, lead, or both. This data comes from 50 homeowners who cleaned their homes, with 78% hiring professional cleaners.

Of the 50 homes, 63% had lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standard. The average lead levels were nearly 60 times higher than the EPA’s rule.

Even after the fires were extinguished, volatile organic compounds from smoke lingered in homes, some known to cause cancer. Residents should ventilate and filter indoor air by opening windows or using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers with charcoal filters.

Insurance Challenges for Residents

Zoe Gonzalez Izquierdo struggles to get her insurance company to pay for adequate cleanup of her Altadena home, which tested positive for dangerous lead levels and other toxic compounds.

“They can’t just send a company that’s not certified to just wipe things down so that then we can go back to a still contaminated home,” Gonzalez said, who has children ages 2 and 4.

Experts believe the lead comes from burned lead paint. The University of Southern California reported that over 70% of homes affected by the Eaton Fire were built before 1979, when lead paint was common.

“For pregnant individuals and young children, it’s particularly important to eliminate exposure to lead,” said Dr. Lisa Patel, executive director for the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.

She added that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.

Living with the Aftermath

Residents in the Pacific Palisades face similar challenges. They rely on insurance companies to decide coverage and amounts. Many homeowners want state agencies to enforce a requirement for insurance companies to restore properties to pre-fire conditions.

Julie Lawson’s family paid about $7,000 out of pocket to test the soil in their Altadena home, despite their insurance agreeing to replace the grass in their yard. They plan to test for contaminants again after remediating the inside. If insurance won’t cover it, they will pay themselves.

Even if their home becomes livable again, they face losses, including equity and community.

“We have to live in the scar,” she said. “We’re all still really struggling.”

They will be living in a construction zone for years. “This isn’t over for us.”

Mental Health Impact

Annie Barbour from the nonprofit United Policyholders helps people navigate challenges, including insurance companies resisting contamination testing. She sees the mental health toll on residents, many of whom were initially happy their homes survived.

“But they’ve been in their own special kind of hell ever since,” Barbour said.

Residents like the Malones are inspecting their belongings, fearing toxins. They fill their car, basement, garage, and home with boxes and bags of clothes and chinaware.

Nina cleans cabinets, drawers, and floors, still finding soot and ash. She wears gloves and a respirator or an N-95 mask.

Their insurance won’t pay to retest their home, so they consider paying $10,000 themselves. If tests show contamination, their insurance will only cover federally regulated toxins like lead and asbestos.

“I don’t know how you fight that,” Nina said, considering therapy for her anxiety. “How do you compel an insurance company to pay for something to make yourself safe?”

Summary of Key Facts