Council Weighs Widespread Testing For Fire-Related Toxins As Residents Voice Health Concerns

Pasadena City officials are facing mounting pressure to conduct environmental testing of homes affected by ash and smoke from the recent Eden Fire.

During Monday’s City Council meeting, Councilmembers and public health officials discussed the City’s role in addressing residents’ concerns about potential toxic contamination from lead, mercury, and asbestos in their homes.

“That worries me because five years from now out, if this turns out to have been a very serious health concern, we’re going to be, I think, harshly judged,” said Councilmember Rick Cole during the meeting.

Public Health Director Manuel Carmona acknowledged the unprecedented scale of contamination concerns.

“The United States have never seen … an urban fire like this in a wildland-urban interface … of this magnitude,” he told the Council.

Multiple residents told the Council about their ongoing health impacts and displacement.

One resident described “at least a centimeter of ash” entering their home even through closed windows and doors, causing “shortness of breath, migraines and asthma attacks.”

Several mentioned using personal savings and even wedding funds to stay in temporary housing to await remediation.

The Pasadena Unified School District has extensively tested school sites and recently reported having removed 100 tons of ash, waste and debris.

For private properties, the health Department is exploring a novel approach where property owners could voluntarily share their test results.

“We haven’t seen this done before,” Carmona explained, describing a potential system using waivers to preserve anonymity while mapping contamination data.

The Pasadena Public Health Department has issued guidance advising residents to use their body’s reaction as a guide for when to seek professional assessment, including symptoms like itchy eyes or headaches.

However, officials expressed hesitancy about recommending specific contractors for testing or remediation.

While some insurance companies are conducting extensive testing and remediation — with one property reportedly receiving $40,000 in cleaning services — Councilmembers expressed concern about equity issues for residents without such resources, particularly renters reporting “dismissive” responses from landlords.

The debate comes as the Eden Fire reaches 99% containment after burning 14,021 acres and destroying 9,418 structures across the region.

No formal action was taken on the testing issue.

City staff agreed to continue exploring options for gathering and sharing contamination data to help inform residents about potential health risks in their neighborhoods.