Safe and Sustainable Post-Fire Remediation

Wildfire relief

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Following the January 2025 wildfires, residents across Pasadena, Altadena, and LA County are confronting a toxic soil crisis—soil testing results reveal lead, arsenic, PAHs, dioxins, and other hazardous contaminants, yet no clear, trusted guidance exists on how to interpret results or safely remediate affected land. The lack of accessible, community-based education leaves residents anxious and vulnerable. With few affordable, science-based options, many turn to unvetted companies or attempt DIY remediation without technical oversight—risking ineffective cleanup and further exposure—while conventional “dig and dump” methods remain prohibitively expensive and ecologically damaging. The result is an urgent gap in soil test interpretation and support understanding remediation options and guidelines from experts. Simultaneously, many people are displaced until soil cleanup can occur, and many landscaping and gardening companies are out of work.

This post-fire soil recovery initiative, led by CAER, will bridge the gap between soil testing and community action. It combines community education, technical support, hands-on learning, and workforce development. The project will:
Provide support to residents to interpret soil test results and select safe, science-based remediation strategies for their budget.
Host workshops and create a community-friendly toolkit to empower residents, schools, and neighborhood groups.
Establish a visible demonstration site showcasing regenerative post-fire bioremediation.
Extend CAER’s 16-week bioremediation certificate program with a post-fire remediation-focused track, prioritizing local landscapers and displaced workers as trainees.
Partner with local networks (LINKS, SoCal Post-Fire Bioremediation Coalition, Tribes, schools) to ensure culturally relevant, community-rooted recovery.
Under the guidance of Dr. Danielle Stevenson, the program delivers trusted, field-tested solutions—avoiding unsafe DIY efforts or unvetted commercial services—and builds a replicable, scalable model for LA County and beyond.

If successful, LA communities will no longer face fire-contaminated soil alone. Residents will understand their soil test results and feel empowered to take safe, informed action to select suitable remediation strategies. Local leaders and workforce trainees will drive post-fire soil remediation, reducing health risks and displacement and providing employment for impacted local workers. Schools, parks, and homes will understand and have guidance to adopt vetted, nature-based remediation options modeled at public demonstration sites. By building a trained local network and clear public guidance, this project prevents unsafe DIY attempts and unqualified remediation efforts. Ultimately, it will create a replicable framework for resilient, community-led recovery across LA County.