A close up of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
In response to the recent impacts of the Eaton Fire, Pasadena’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Parveen Kaur, has amended the Local Health Emergency Declaration.
By News Desk
The move follows environmental testing and mobile air monitoring data, which indicate that the immediate risks to public health posed by fire debris and wildfire smoke have subsided.
Local air quality monitoring by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and environmental testing conducted by the City of Pasadena confirm that, while the wildfire conditions initially posed risks, the current threats to human health and safety are minimal. As a result, the focus of the Public Health Emergency Declaration has shifted to key areas aimed at continuing to safeguard public health:
- Reducing the potential risk of exposure to environmental contaminants in ash and particulate matter.
- Ensuring the safe removal of toxic substances, such as lithium batteries and paint, from private properties that may pose risks to human health and the environment.
- Positioning the City to access state and federal resources to support local health protection efforts.
Dr. Kaur emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant, noting, “Based on air monitoring and city facility testing data, [we are] updating the local health emergency declaration to reflect current conditions. More environmental data is needed, and we will issue additional guidance if necessary to protect public health.”
The City’s health department has confirmed that no asbestos was detected, and all lead measurements from tests at nine city facilities were found to be below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Dust Lead Action Level (DLAL). The DLAL standard was designed to protect children and ensure safe conditions in homes and childcare centers. Test results are available on the City’s online Facility Environmental Test Results map.
Mobile Air Monitoring
On January 31, 2025, AQMD conducted mobile air monitoring which showed no elevated levels of hazardous materials such as lead, arsenic, or benzene. Overall, air quality readings remained within background levels and below both national standards and state health thresholds. However, elevated levels of methane were detected in Altadena, possibly from gas leaks. AQMD has reported these findings to relevant utility agencies for further investigation.
AQMD has also set up two stationary monitoring sites in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire areas to help track and evaluate air quality in real-time. These sites provide hourly updates, which are crucial for understanding the ongoing impact of cleanup activities and other localized environmental factors.
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