Research
Air Sampling
Is the air safe? Do I need to throw away my mattress? Can I exercise safely outdoors?
The LA Fires released a complex mix of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from burned structures, vehicles, and household products. These emissions can persist for weeks to months, as damaged materials gradually release pollutants back into the air.
Additionally, cleanup activities—such as debris removal and demolition—may further re-suspend contaminated dust and emit VOCs, prolonging exposure risks for returning residents. However, post-fire air quality remains an understudied yet critical area in wildfire research. The goal of this study is to assess indoor and outdoor exposure to both PM and VOCs following the LA Fires.
We will collect air samples inside and outside of homes and investigate whether porous materials exposed to wildfire smoke can absorb VOCs and subsequently release secondary air toxicants into the indoor environment over time. We seek data so that we can help produce clear and practical guidelines about what can be safely cleaned, what needs to be thrown away, and what are the most effective cleaning.
Soil Sampling
Is the soil on my property contaminated? Is it safe to replant my garden?
We are asking owners of properties near the Palisades and Eaton Fires for permission to collect soil and water samples in their yards, gardens, and/or pools to test for possible wildfire pollutants. There is NO cost to the homeowner for the sampling or testing. To enroll, please fill out this form:
SOIL SAMPLE ENROLLMENT FORM
The results will be provided to the homeowner once testing is completed (~1-2 weeks after samples are collected). Additionally results, grouped and mapped by neighborhood, will be available and updated regularly, but no names or specific addresses will be listed with the results. Researchers will then use the deidentified data in publications and presentations.
Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to decline to answer any question, although not answering certain questions may result in us not being able to collect a sample. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brianne Gilbert, Managing Director at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, at studyLA@lmu.edu. Completion of this enrollment form does not ensure a sample will be taken. We will do our best to collect samples from every requested location, however, resources are limited. Homeowners will be emailed if their property is selected and will be informed which day a sample will be taken a few days in advance. Our team is actively working to secure additional funding for more samples.
Water Sampling
How should I remediate my pool? When will my pool be safe to use again?
SWIMMING POOLS: Hundreds of swimming pools are located within the burn perimeters of the recent Palisade and Eaton Fires. We have seen firsthand swimming pools are contaminated with fire debris, burned ash, dead animals, and potentially harmful pollutants.
Furthermore, far more swimming pools outside the burn perimeters may have been polluted with ash and other debris if they receive runoff containing wildfire residues during the rainfalls after the wildfire event. Yet, limited guidance exists on how to safely handle the polluted water, partly because the ranges and concentrations of pollutants in the swimming pool directly or indirectly affected by wildfire and runoff have not been measured. No prior pool water testing study has been conducted after a fire. The goal of this study is to help pool owners and health officials understand the safety of pool water after a fire by measuring the concentration of heavy metals and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) in pool water and the debris deposited on the pool floor. If you have a pool on your property, please consider allowing us to sample it as well (same sign-up link as above).
Is it safe to drink my water? If the water doesn’t smell does that mean it’s safe?
DRINKING WATER: We are working to better understand the effects of fire on drinking water. Ash, sediment, and chemicals may affect water systems and quality. Water sampling is underway to ensure water is safe for drinking, bathing, and washing.
The CAP.LA team conducted water sampling in the Rustic Canyon area adjacent to the Palisades. Additional water testing sites TBD.
Community
How do I know my children’s school is safe to return to? Where can I turn to get my questions answered? What contamination are my neighbors finding at their houses?
Understanding Household Experiences to Enable a Faster and More Informed Recovery.
Three survey activities are underway so that household experiences and concerns can be better addressed by officials and decision makers.
Environmental Test Result Review Study.
This study was initiated to allow households to provide their testing results to Purdue University where they will be reviewed and analyzed to better understand household environmental testing experiences. This study was created as a direct result of households asking for assistance navigating the complexity of testing results and guidance provided by contractors and other parties. Households who wish to participate can follow this link: Purdue Environmental Test Results Study. Results will be compiled, anonymized, and summarized once a critical number of reports are received.In-person Household Interviews of Experiences & Needs.
This effort began shortly after the fire to inform the REBUILD Survey design. Households that were selected for participation were contacted by Professor Andrew Whelton at Purdue University. This effort focused on early household questions and challenges. Results are currently being compiled for reporting.April 2025 - Online REBUILD Survey of Experience & Needs.
Recovery Efforts By Uniting Individuals, Listening, and Discovery: The REBUILD study was initiated in direct response to the overwhelming number of questions received by the researchers and preliminary findings of the in-person household interviews. Topics to be covered in the online survey include household impacts, property experiences and needs, challenges property owners are currently facing and those they anticipate facing, and perceived gaps in the responses that property owners receive from different sources. Topics may also include property cleanup, environmental exposures, testing, opinions, insurance and government agency interactions, and more. Survey results will help expedite ongoing recovery and serve as a model for future incidents since no such mechanism currently exists. Homeowners who wish to participate will give consent agreeing to share their data and their results will be anonymized and pooled with all responses. Responses will be separated into three or more groups, for example, the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Adjacent to a burn zone. Results of the survey will be available on the CAP.LA website after the data are collected.