Andrew Whelton, a professor in the Schools of Civil and Construction Engineering and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

A Purdue Engineering professor is providing science-based guidance for safe home recovery and insurance practices.

Andrew Whelton, who has a joint appointment in the Schools of Civil and Construction Engineering (CCE) and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE), is a national expert in environmental contamination and disaster recovery. He and his team have brought attention to post-wildfire water contamination, conducted research to determine its causes, and contributed to the first national recommendations for addressing it.

In May 2025, California Department of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara called attention to the complex impacts of smoke damage caused by the destructive wildfires in the state. These early 2025 fires infiltrated urban areas at a scale never before seen in California.

“For more than 30 years, California has lacked consistent statewide standards for investigating and paying smoke damage claims. The result is confusion, delays, and families forced to return to unsafe homes,” Lara said.

The growing number of casualties and destruction prompted Lara to create the Smoke Claims and Remediation Task Force.

“Consumers are angry and rightly so,” Lara continued. “Californians deserve better, and this task force will help us create lasting solutions.”           

On Oct. 13, Whelton and Eric Bollens, chief technology officer of LightBox, briefed the task force on new findings and emerging challenges. The team, which also includes SEE PhD student Cristiane Ferrarezzi, co-authored the first-ever evidence-based post-fire building environmental testing guide. Released in August 2025 and highlighted during the briefing, the report already has been downloaded more than 1,600 times by professionals, agencies and homeowners. 

“The information provided has the potential to influence statewide policy for all subsequent fires,” Whelton said. “It’s also possible that other states and insurance companies may take cues from California and therefore adopt their own approaches.”

Since January 2025, Whelton's group has been meeting one-on-one with property owners affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, reviewing contamination test results and providing expert guidance for a safer recovery. This ongoing work continues to highlight the urgent need for standardized testing and remediation practices across California and beyond, Whelton said.

In 2024, through a partnership with leaders from communities afflicted by past megafires, Whelton's team released the first-ever evidence-based wildfire response guidance for drinking water utilities. This transformed how drinking water providers responded to the 2025 fires in Los Angeles County.

“Science must guide how we test, remediate and rebuild after wildfires,” Whelton said. “Families deserve confidence that their homes are truly safe, and evidenced-based standards are critical to making that possible.”

Related Links:

• California Department of Insurance Press Release: Smoke Claims and Fire Remediation Task Force Announcement

• KMJ Now Coverage: Commissioner Announces New Smoke Claims Remediation Task Force

• Purdue University: After a Wildfire: Considerations for Building Environmental Testing

• Purdue University: Center for Plumbing Safety - Purdue University

• APM Reports: When wildfires compromise water, utilities lean on this professor

An illustration from Whelton's post-fire building environmental testing guide, which has been downloaded more than 1,600 times by professionals, agencies and homeowners.