FEMA to Fund Lead Soil Testing at Eaton Fire Sites

West of Fair Oaks in Altadena (File Photo – Melissa Michelson)

Federal officials are preparing to announce a significant policy shift: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will cover the cost of soil testing for lead contamination at homes destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

By News Desk

The move represents a reversal in approach, following concerns raised about the safety of earlier cleanup efforts. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that FEMA will pay for testing at 100 properties that had previously been cleared by federal contractors.

The decision comes in the wake of investigative reporting that suggested cleanup crews may have failed to follow proper safety protocols, raising the possibility that toxic materials were left behind.

Soil sampling is scheduled to begin next week, with results expected in April. The findings could determine whether additional remediation is needed to ensure the safety of residents returning to fire-damaged areas.