Unused pools in LA fire burn scars could turn into mosquito breeding grounds

If you were affected by the L.A.-area fires earlier this year and have a pool, you may want to get it checked out.

Vector control districts covering the Palisades and Eaton burn scars are warning residents that unmaintained pools could be turning into breeding grounds for mosquitoes as warmer weather returns. To prevent that, officials are applying mosquito control treatments, at no cost to the public.

If you haven’t returned home yet, here’s what you should know about available help.

Why mosquitos pose a problem now

Mosquitoes can typically show up as early as April, but environmental changes can alter their habits.

When you have hundreds of untouched pools at vacant or destroyed properties, it creates a tricky situation because one pool could house as many as 3 million mosquitoes a month.

Anais Medina Diaz, a spokesperson for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, said initial aerial surveillance picked up 1,330 of these pools inside the Eaton Fire burn zone. This doesn’t include damaged septic tanks, fountains or other sources of water that officials may find as they go into the field.

The district is aware of about 2,700 swimming pools around the area where mosquitoes could breed, but the problem doesn’t only apply to the Eaton Fire.

Aaron Arugay, executive director of the L.A. County West Vector Control District, said mosquito concerns along the coast begin later in the season, but they’re worried about pools in Pacific Palisades, too.

What’s being done to remedy it

Medina Diaz said their response is being guided by how they would handle the native Culex mosquito, which primarily shows up at the beginning of each season. Those can transmit West Nile virus and have a flight range from a half mile to 1 mile.

“We’re using this potential flight range to address pools that are within a mile of populated communities on the perimeter of the Eaton burn scar,” she said.

Both districts are encouraging residents to notify them about their pool’s status and request mosquito control treatments if it’s unmaintained, which include applying temporary larvicides or using mosquitofish.

Standing water that allows mosquitoes to breed is considered a public nuisance under the California Health and Safety Code, so property owners are normally responsible for remedying it. That’s why vector control treatments are usually paid for through an annual property tax charge. But since these aren’t normal times, the districts are doing the treatments for free, which can take four to six weeks.

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is already treating some pools since right of entry forms aren't required for these treatments. But you can start the process by completing a form and then enrolling in its SGVpools program. To enroll, follow one of these steps:

• Text “Eaton Enroll” to (626) 314-6006.
• Email “Eaton Enroll” to SwimmingPool@SGVmosquito.org.
• Call (626) 314-6006 for a vector control specialist to help with enrollment.

For residents in the Palisades Fire area, you can notify the L.A. County West Vector Control District at (310) 915-7370, or fill out a request for service on its website here.

“Our district will be responding throughout the summer to all requests for service regarding unmaintained pools in the Palisades Fire area,” Arugay said. “Pools at homes where residents have been displaced due to severe damage will take priority.‌”

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