Vector Control Team Launches Mosquito Treatment Campaign In Eaton Fire Burn Area

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District will begin direct treatments on March 17 to combat potential mosquito breeding sites in areas affected by the Eaton Fire, the District announced Tuesday.

The initiative targets unmaintained swimming pools and large sources of standing water that could become breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.

“Unmaintained pools pose a high public health risk. A single pool can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes in just one month,” District officials stated. “These mosquitoes can spread quickly throughout the community, putting residents at risk.”

Vector control technicians will apply temporary mosquito control measures at identified locations, including larvicides, other mosquito control products, and mosquitofish where appropriate. The treatments aim to prevent the spread of diseases like West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.

District personnel are already active at the Altadena Disaster Resource Center, providing guidance to affected property owners and assessing water sources within the burn area. Their efforts focus on helping property owners prevent mosquito growth in stagnant water, particularly in situations where residents have limited access to their properties.

“If you are a property owner in the Eaton Burn Area, we need your cooperation to prevent mosquitoes from growing,” the District said. According to the California Health and Safety Code (§§ 2060-2061), standing water that supports mosquito production is considered a public nuisance, and property owners are responsible for addressing such conditions.

Property owners are encouraged to complete two specific steps:

Step 1: Request for Mosquito Control Services, and

Step 2: Enroll in SGVpools — Eaton Response program.

A map is available to help property owners identify if their pool will be included in the District’s response efforts.

“The SGVpools program was created to facilitate communication between property owners and the District regarding the status of pools,” the document explains. The District also offers a Frequently Asked Questions resource with clear answers about request services, treatment options, and how to report pool status.

In recognition of the hardship faced by property owners, the District’s Board of Trustees has authorized participation in Los Angeles County’s Direct Assessment Disaster Relief Program. Under this program, the County will remove the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District direct assessment charges of $20 per parcel for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 on affected parcels, issue refunds to taxpayers who have already made payments, and provide ongoing updates regarding additional affected parcels as property damage assessments continue. Property owners do not need to take any action to receive this relief—eligible parcels will automatically have direct assessment charges removed, and the County will process refunds for payments already made.

Established in 1989, the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District recently celebrated its 35th anniversary and serves approximately 25 cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The District implements science-based approaches to monitor mosquito populations, prevent disease outbreaks, and educate communities about vector control.