Soil tests show lead and toxins above safe levels in areas hit by Eaton and Palisades wildfires.

After the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, soil testing revealed that lead and other toxins remain above safe levels in some areas, even after cleanup efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In the Eaton fire zone, 27% of samples showed lead levels exceeding health standards, compared to 3% in the Palisades area. Health officials recommend that those rebuilding conduct soil impact assessments and use mitigation strategies to ensure safety, especially in high-use areas like gardens and play spaces.