L.A. Fires Public Health Response

In January 2025, multiple fires sparked in Los Angeles California area prompting environmental health and safety concerns for the communities. In response to the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, Purdue University researchers were contacted for help by L.A. County Public Works, drinking water utilities, and households. After onsite technical assistance, the Purdue team was supported by the R&S Kayne Foundation to work with Community Action Project Los Angeles (CAP.LA) and initiated three household focused efforts.

Initiative 1: Online REBUILD Survey of Experience & Needs for Households

Starting March 2025, households impacted by the Eaton Fire or Palisades Fire are encouraged to participate in an online fire recovery survey. The purpose of the study is to compile household experiences that can then be summarized and help expedite ongoing household and community level recovery decisions. Topics covered in the survey include household impacts, property cleanup experiences and needs, insurance experiences, and unanswered questions.

The survey can be accessed here:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_beL7qUuMl3WTMZE

REBUILD stands for Recovery Efforts By Uniting Individuals, Listening, and Discovery.

One representative of each household is encouraged to participate. Households in and adjacent to the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire burn areas can participate.

The protocol was reviewed by the Purdue University Institutional Review Board (Protocol IRB-2025-387); Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrew Whelton, Purdue University, awhelton@purdue.edu, (765) 494-2160.

Initiative 2: Environmental Test Result Review Study for the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire

In response to frustration expressed by households with the complexity of environmental testing results they are receiving from contractors and other parties and how other areas of the community are impacted, our Environmental Testing Result Review study was initiated. Often households are left on their own. This study was created as a direct result of households asking for this help.

Households who wish to participate by uploading their Test Results reports can follow this link here:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg338czfsedtZ7E

Results will be compiled, anonymized, and summarized once a critical number of reports are received.

Initiative 3: In-person Household Interviews of Experiences & Needs

Shortly after the fire began Purdue University researchers. Households that were selected for the participation were contacted by Dr. Andrew Whelton at Purdue University. This effort focused on early household questions and challenges. Preliminary results of this effort are being compiled for reporting and were considered in designing the larger online survey.