The Pasadena City Council on Monday will consider adopting a resolution to officially terminate the Local Public Health Emergency declared in January following the Eaton Fire and severe windstorm conditions that struck the city earlier this year.
The declaration, issued on Jan. 15 was prompted by widespread environmental and public health risks in the aftermath of the fire and windstorm that caused major damage to infrastructure, power lines, and homes across Altadena and Pasadena.
The City Council ratified the declaration two days later and approved an amended version in February to reflect the city’s evolving public health response needs.
According to a city report, conditions have now improved enough that the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) can manage remaining recovery efforts within existing operations, ending the need for the formal emergency declaration.
When the wildfire erupted on Jan. 7, the city opened an evacuation shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center, which quickly filled with more than 1,100 evacuees, including over 400 residents from long-term care facilities with medical needs. PPHD staff and volunteers provided triage, treatment, and coordinated the transfer of medically fragile residents to regional facilities—with no fatalities reported among evacuees.
Within days, health officials partnered with Kaiser Permanente and AltaMed to establish onsite clinics providing medical care, mental health counseling, and medication distribution.
When the American Red Cross assumed shelter management, the department shifted focus to infection prevention after a norovirus outbreak sickened evacuees and staff.
By enforcing strict hygiene protocols, deploying handwashing stations, and issuing a Health Officer Order requiring masks for shelter personnel, PPHD contained the outbreak within nine days.
Following the fire, PPHD conducted a range of environmental assessments to ensure community safety. Air and soil testing at city facilities and parks found no dangerous levels of lead or asbestos, and air quality monitoring was expanded through collaborations with Caltech’s PHOENIX network and the deployment of PurpleAir sensors across the city.
The department also promoted free blood lead and soil testing for residents in affected areas through partnerships with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Data collected through September showed that the vast majority of Pasadena residents tested did not have elevated blood lead levels, and most city parks and properties met state safety thresholds.
In addition, a Health Officer Order issued Jan. 22 required the safe removal and disposal of fire debris from private properties to minimize exposure to hazardous materials.
Officials stressed that terminating the local health emergency does not end the city’s Eaton Fire emergency response.
The PPHD will continue to monitor air and soil quality, review new environmental data, and coordinate with County and state partners to provide public health guidance as needed.
City staff said ending the emergency declaration will have no fiscal impact, as current operations are already budgeted and the city continues to pursue FEMA reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred during the response.
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