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Center for Plumbing Safety

2025 Los Angeles Fires Public Health Response

In January 2025, multiple fires in the Los Angeles, California area chemically contaminated thousands of residential and commercial properties. In response to the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, Purdue University researchers and partners were contacted for help. Through numerous in person and distance engagements, the team helped a variety of government agencies (i.e., city, county, utilities), elected leaders, community groups, businesses, and households. In February 2025, several efforts were supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation. The Purdue team and collaborators started and completed a number of other intiatives. Collaborations with community groups Pali Strong and Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU) and multiple universities in and outside California bring critical knowledge to the communities impacted. A webinar series called After the Fires is sharing discoveries and policy recommendations from these efforts.

Results and New Studies Led by Us and Others

Others webinars coming soon and presentations can be found here.

  • Community Survey Report for the REBUILD Study (coming soon)
  • Webinar - The L.A. Wildfires REBUILD Survey: Overview, household experiences, needs and perceptions. September 20, 2025. About the webinar here. Register here.
  • Webinar - Soil Safety After the L.A. Wildfires, Debris Removal, and More: What have we learned so far? September 13, 2025. About the webinar here. Register here.
  • Results and recommendations shared on StraightTalk with Pali Strong, August 2025
  • Recommendations provided to the LA Fire Health Consortium on a pre-print report and community response, August 2025
  • Recommendations issued to the State of California to correct their newly released post-wildfire soil testing guidance, August 2025 
  • Webinar - The L.A. Pools Study: What was in the water after the 2025 wildfires? August 18, 2025 (Presentation file here; video recording here)
  • The After the Fires Webinar Series kicked off, August 2025 here
  • Results shared at the Purdue Summer Symposium about the incidents overview and property testing, July 2025
  • Results shared at Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU) meeting, June 2025
  • Recommendations issued to the State of California to correct post-wildfire residential property testing practices, May 2025
  • Results shared at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) meeting, May 2025
  • Recommendations shared to the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, May 2025
  • Results shared for public awareness on residential property soil testing practices, April 2025
  • Recommendations shared to the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, March 2025
  • Recommendations shared at StraightTalk with Pali Strong Environmental Concerns and Testing Panel, March 2025
  • Recommendations issued to the State of California to correct post-wildfire drinking water testing practices, February 2025 
  • Recommendations shared to all California-Nevada drinking water utilities about wildfire response and recovery, January 2025
  • Recommendations shared to the 11 drinking water utilities impacted by the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, January 2025

Overview of Major Inititatives

  • The Home Environmental Test Study (Ongoing)
  • The REBUILD Survey (Results being prepared for release)
  • Residential Soil Testing Guidance Document, Recommendation to the State of California (Complete)
  • The L.A. Pools Study (Complete)
  • Post-Fire Residential Soil Testing, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)
  • Drinking Water Safety After Wildfire, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)

Help Us Make a Difference

Our efforts are only possible because of the support we receive from people who wish to make a difference. By supporting our work, no matter how big or how small, we can hire students, collect data, analyze the results, and share results with the people and businesses most affected. As we have done for 20+ years, we then channel those results into driving positive change improving health, safety, and welfare related to emergencies and disasters.

Many people who donate want to pay it forward because they know how critical rapid and useful information can be.

If you would like to help, you can consider donating online to our efforts (click here). In the notes, be sure to mention "Whelton Disaster Response and Recovery".

Or, a check can be separately provided to:

  • Make Check Payable to: Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering 
  • ATTN: Andrew Whelton
  • Purdue University 
  • In the notes, mention: Whelton Disaster Response and Recovery
  • 3145 Hampton Hall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
Or, securities donations are also accepted. These require special care before provision.
 
Please contact Professor Andrew Whelton at awhelton@purdue.edu with any questions.

The Home Environmental Test Study (Ongoing) - Champion support opportunities available 

The study will identify evidence-based practices for safely returning to and restoring homes and personal property after a fire. Gaps where additional work is needed will also be identified.

Households who wish to participate can follow this link to a secure Purdue University website: Purdue Environmental Test Results Study

Overview: As a direct response of households asking for assistance navigating the complexity of testing results and guidance provided by contractors and other parties, this study was initiated in February 2025. As part of this study and at no cost to the property owner, the Purdue team has been meeting with property owners who submit their home environmental testing information and are assisting with the process. Further, the team has also been meeting with elected officials, government officials, community groups, and engaging with property testing companies about issues that are surfacing. Issues include improper testing methods being applied by consultants, incorrect chemical safety standards used for comparison, contractors not testing for the contaminants widely known to be of great concern in the Eaton and Palisades Fire impact areas. Results are being compiled, anonymized, and analyzed.

Lead and Partners: 

  • Andrew Whelton, Ph.D., Cristiane Ferrarezzi, Purdue University
  • Lauryn Spearing, Ph.D., Joe Toland, Tufts University
  • Eric Bollens, Resident

Funds received for this effort to date: 0% (Persons, businesses, and other organizations that wish to support this effort should contact Professor Andrew Whelton at Purdue, awhelton@purdue.edu)

The REBUILD Survey (Results are being prepared for release) - Supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation

The study helps identify and describe household experiences with evacuation, housing, environmental testing, chemical exposures, insurance, and rebuilding. Gaps where additional community support is needed will also be identified.

++ This survey has closed. Results are being prepared for wide sharing ++

Overview: From April 2025-June 2025, an online community survey was conducted. The survey, called the Recovery Efforts By Uniting Individuals, Listening, and Discovery (REBUILD) study was initiated in direct response to the overwhelming number of questions received by the researchers and preliminary findings of the onsite household interviews and property inspections. Study results are being prepared for wide sharing in September and plan to be shared here.

Lead and Partners:

  • Andrew Whelton, Ph.D., Cristiane Ferrarezzi, Caitlin Proctor, Ph.D., Yao Chen, Jianxi Su, Purdue University
  • Brianne Gilbert, Chhandosi Roy, Ph.D., Loyola Marymount University
  • Lauryn Spearing, Ph.D., Joe Toland, Tufts University
  • Anna Hoover, Ph.D., University of Kentucky
  • Mónica Palomo, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, ENV SP, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Funds received for this effort to date: 40%.

Residential Soil Testing Guidance Document, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)

In response to August 2025 soil testing guidance issued by government officials an opinion was penned and recommendation to California Governor Gavin Newsom. That opinion is here.

The L.A. Pools Study (Complete) - Supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation

The study helps identify and describe household experiences with wildfire impacted pools. Gaps where additional community support is needed will also be identified.

++ This study has closed. Results were shared with property owners and are being prepared for wider sharing ++

Overview: After the fires, a RAPID survey and swimming pool testing campaign was conducted. The survey examined questions, concerns, and actions of pool owners. Water and debris samples were collected at 100 pools in the EAton Fire and Palisades Fire areas, and were chemically analyzed. Pool owners were provided testing results directly and "office hours" were made available whereby pool owners could get 1-on-1 feedback from the researchers. initiated in direct response to the overwhelming number of questions received by the researchers and preliminary findings of the onsite household interviews and property inspections. Study results are being prepared for wide sharing and will be shared here.

Lead and Partners:

  • Caitlin Proctor, Ph.D., Andrew Whelton, Ph.D., Purdue University
  • Mónica Palomo, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, ENV SP, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • Kristofer Isaacsson, Ph.D., University of Southern California
  • Sanjay Mohanty, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles – UCLA

Funds received for this effort to date: 40%.

Post-Fire Residential Soil Testing, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)

In response to decisions by government officials not to conduct soil testing after property debris removal, a group of soil testing experts penned an opinion and recommendation to California Governor Gavin Newsom. This opinion was drafted after months of behind-the-scenes engagement with officials, home, and business owners who did not understand that soil testing was wildfire best practice in California for the past 8 years. That opinion is here.

Signees were:

  • Andrew J. Whelton, Ph.D., Purdue University, Professor
  • Sanjay Mohanty, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles – UCLA, Associate Professor
  • Josh West, Ph.D., University of Southern California – USC, Professor
  • Sam Silva, Ph.D., University of Southern California – USC, Assistant Professor
  • Seth John, Ph.D., University of Southern California – USC, Professor
  • Jennifer Cotton, Ph.D., California State University, Northridge – CSUN, Associate Professor
  • Thomas Borch, Ph.D., Colorado State University – CSU, Professor
  • Christine O’Connell, Ph.D., Chapman University, Assistant Professor
  • Francois Tissot, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology – CalTech, Professor
  • Jasquelin Peña, Ph.D., University of California, Davis – UC Davis, Associate Professor
  • Mónica Palomo, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, ENV SP, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Professor
  • Tracy Quinn, P.E., Affected homeowner, Chief Executive Officer of Health the Bay, Board Member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Drinking Water Safety After Wildfire, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)

Based on declarations by State of California officials that benzene was the only chemical that wildfire impacted drinking water utilities “needed” to test for, an opinion and recommendation was made public to revise the State of California Code as it pertains to drinking water safety after wildfires. That opinion is here.

Signees were:

  • Andrew J. Whelton, Ph.D., Purdue University, Professor
  • Nikki Zavodny, Purdue University, Student