The LA wildfire victims still living in toxic homes: ‘We have nowhere else to go’
One year on from the Eaton fire, the shadow of destruction still lingers over Altadena. While new properties are being built and families are returning, many residents grapple with an urgent question: is it safe to stay?
The fire devastated this part of Los Angeles county, killing 19 people, displacing tens of thousands, and destroying nearly 9,500 structures. The flames incinerated older homes and businesses, leaving behind toxins like lead paint and asbestos. These hazards linger even after remediation, the process meant to restore homes and make them safe to occupy.
As Altadena struggles to rebuild, residents are facing immense challenges. Some are eager to stay, while others can't afford to go anywhere else. Official information about health risks was limited early on, and many learned about dangers as they went. Some have developed health concerns, and many are still battling insurance companies to cover costs and ensure their homes are habitable.
Their predicament highlights the increased dangers of urban fires and how Altadena has become a living laboratory for scientists and residents to learn in real time. Nicole Maccalla, a data scientist, moved back into her Altadena home after extensive cleanup, but air purifiers still register high levels of particulate matter, and the smell of the fire returns when it rains.
Dawn Fanning, who lost her home, was sure it wouldn't be spared when the fire approached. Her home, miraculously, escaped the flames, but it wasn't unscathed. Virtually nothing in Altadena was. Confused and frustrated with the local government's handling of health concerns, Maccalla and Fanning joined other fire survivors to form Eaton Fire Residents United, advocating for safe recovery and developing testing and remediation guidelines.
The devastation in Altadena was staggering. Many of the 19 people who died were older adults who hadn't received evacuation warnings for hours. Parts of the city were almost unrecognizable, with fire-scorched landmarks and beloved community spaces. Residents like Rosa Robles and Tamara Artin returned to homes with new additions, but still dealing with the aftermath of the fire. Robles threw away clothes and bed sheets, and Artin is still trying to replace furniture she had to throw away.
Fanning has been battling her insurance company to cover necessary work to make her house safe. She wonders if she'll ever feel safe again, even as she advocates for others through Eaton Fire Residents United. The group has published research and advocated for comprehensive clearances before residents return, finding that more than half of remediated homes still had unsafe levels of lead and/or asbestos.
