Skip navigation
Center for Plumbing Safety

2025 Los Angeles Fires Public Health Response

In January 2025, multiple fires in the Los Angeles, California area prompted serious environmental health and safety concerns and chemical contamination of the communities. 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, the Purdue team was supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation to work with the Community Action Project Los Angeles (CAP.LA). Collaborations were also initiated with the community groups Pali Strong and Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU). Results of some studies and activities are described below.

Results and New Studies Led by Us and Others

  • More coming soon...Not all presentations listed. Others can be found here.
  • 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 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 (Survey Results Being Prepared for Release)
  • Post-Fire Residential Soil Testing, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)
  • Drinking Water Safety After Wildfire, Recommendations to the State of California (Complete)

The Home Environmental Test Study (Ongoing)

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: Purdue University and Community Members

The REBUILD Survey (Results are being prepared for release)

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 July/August and plan to be shared here.

Lead and Partners:

  • Andrew Whelton, Ph.D., Cristiane Ferrarezzi, Caitlin Proctor, Ph.D., Yao Chen, 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

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