Cleanup, debris, water and soil: Health officials answer lingering questions on fire recovery

Although it’s been almost a month since the deadly L.A. County wildfires broke out, many Angelenos are still left with questions.

Do I need to clean my home? Is the soil in my yard safe? What about my water quality?

Realizing the difficulty residents are having getting answers, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health set up a wildfire town hall webinar last week and invited people to send in their trickiest questions. Here are the top four areas that were addressed.

House cleaning

Dr. Nichole Quick, chief medical advisor for the health department, said residents returning home are confused about how to safeguard their health while cleaning up. As LAist has reported, ash and other particles can contain hazardous materials, like lead, asbestos and arsenic.

First step: Quick said you should assess the level of contamination in your home. You can do that by wiping a paper towel or white cloth on a wall or a windowsill. What you find will determine next steps.

• No signs of contamination: Zero ash or soot on horizontal surfaces, no particles in the air and no smoke odor means you don’t need to take remediation actions.
• Some signs: Light ash or soot on surfaces, some particles in the air or a noticeable smoke odor means you can do a thorough cleaning yourself. (Learn how to do that in our guide.)
• Significant signs: A lot of ash or soot on surfaces, plenty of particles in the air or strong smoke odors means professional cleaning or remediation may be needed. Your insurance company may have companies they work with or recommend.

Proper certification: Quick said you should make sure any cleaning company is properly licensed, certified and has the required liability coverage. Certifications may come from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration or the Restoration Industry Association — these organizations can also help you find qualified contractors.

Lab tests: You may be eager to get your home tested once cleaning finishes to see if it was enough. But Quick said no laboratory test can determine if your property is safe. “All lab results must be evaluated in context with environmental conditions at individual properties,” she said.

Debris sifting

If you’ve lost your home, you’re probably planning to return to search through the debris for belongings. But when should you go? Who should avoid it?

First step: Dr. Muntu Davis, county health officer, said it may be best to wait until after hazardous materials get removed, like batteries, paint cans and other items. That’s known as Phase 1 of debris removal, and in most places it is ongoing with no projected end date yet.

Who should go: If you don’t want to wait for that, “Adults should be the ones if anybody’s going to go,” Davis said. “I do not recommend that children or pregnant persons be there. They’re definitely more sensitive to pollution.”

What to wear: Proper personal protective equipment. You can get Tyvek suits and other PPE from the county health department at disaster recovery centers and at the Santa Monica entry pass pickup.

Water testing

Extensive Boil Water, Do Not Drink or Do Not Use notices were issued after the fires affected the water supply. Now some notices have been lifted in districts that have tested the water and found that it meets water quality standards. But what do you do if it still has a strange smell or color?

First step: Flushing the water in your pipes can bring a fresh water supply to your property, said Sean McCarthy of the L.A. regional office of the State Water Resources Control Board.

LADWP has already been doing the utility version of flushing for residents in and around the 90272 ZIP code since Jan. 25. But once you’re home, here’s the utility’s step-by-step guide to doing it yourself.

And here’s a how-to video from the Louisville Water Company:

Testing your water: McCarthy said you can have your water tested, but you’ll most likely pay out of pocket. Your water service provider may offer this service or help you get in contact with a certified lab. The state water board, which handles environmental lab accreditation, also has a map of approved commercial labs.

Home testing kits: If you’re thinking about testing your water at home, don’t waste your money on it. McCarthy said home water testing kits aren’t reliable.

Soil safety

Wildfires put toxins into the air that can get into your soil. Julia Van Soelen Kim, a food systems advisor in the North Bay at UC Cooperative Extension, said contamination of gardens is typically a low concern in most places.

First step: If you grow fruits and vegetables and are concerned about the safety of your next harvest, she said, you should apply the same best practices recommended when anyone starts a garden. That includes getting your soil tested.

How to test: Check the county health department’s guidelines for soil and water testing in home and community gardens. A basic soil test — which analyzes nutrients, pH, and lead levels — can be as low as $10. More expensive tests can be done that look for other contaminants. You can see the department’s full list of suggested soil-test labs here.

How to treat: Van Soelen Kim said you can mix fresh soil with compost in garden bins to dilute and break down contaminants and chemicals in older soil, which can stay. You can also top your soil with mulch to create a barrier between that and your produce.

For more information about how to clean your freshly grown produce, see our guide here. For gardens in burned areas, the California Department of Public Health has a guide to soil care, which includes removing the top 12 inches.

Watch the full town hall

A video of the session is on YouTube.