Some parents in fire-affected areas like Los Angeles County are skipping ash and fire residue screenings for their homes because they worry about the health dangers to their kids from toxic ash that lingers long after the flames die out. This ash, left behind from wildfires like the Eaton Fire in January, carries harmful stuff such as lead paint bits, melted plastics, and even chemicals from batteries, making it risky to breathe or touch, especially for young children who are more sensitive.https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-eaton-fire-county-public-health-ash-smoke-toxic-cleanup-lawsuit-settlementhttps://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-ash-air-quality-miles-time-explainer
Even if a home looks fine after a nearby fire, fine ash particles can drift inside through vents or open windows, settling on floors, furniture, and toys. Experts note that this dust does not stay put; winds can stir it up again, spreading it miles away from the burn zone, so no one is fully safe based on distance alone.https://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-ash-air-quality-miles-time-explainer Parents fear that disturbing the ash during a screening could kick up clouds of it, putting their little ones at higher risk for breathing problems or worse, since kids under five, along with seniors and those with weak immune systems, face the biggest threats.https://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-ash-air-quality-miles-time-explainer
Adding to the worry, many families have dealt with unclear rules on who handles the cleanup. After the Eaton Fire, renters found ash choking their apartments, but landlords often refused to test or clean, and local officials gave mixed messages, like saying ash did not break habitability codes or that tenants should clean it themselves.https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/landlord-tenant-fire-ash-smoke-cleaning-law-los-angeleshttps://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-eaton-fire-county-public-health-ash-smoke-toxic-cleanup-lawsuit-settlement One Pasadena couple with 7-year-old twins paid for their own lead tests that came back high, but their landlord would not act, forcing the family to move nine times in months, which wrecked their kids’ sense of stability.https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/landlord-tenant-fire-ash-smoke-cleaning-law-los-angeles
Now, a new California law steps in to make landlords responsible for professional ash removal in rentals near fires, but trust is low after past letdowns, and some parents just avoid screenings altogether to dodge the hassle and potential exposure.https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/landlord-tenant-fire-ash-smoke-cleaning-law-los-angeles They opt instead for steps like staying indoors, using N95 masks outside, or talking to doctors about personal risks, choosing caution over official tests that might stir up trouble.https://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-ash-air-quality-miles-time-explainer
Sources
https://laist.com/brief/news/climate-environment/los-angeles-ash-air-quality-miles-time-explainer
https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-eaton-fire-county-public-health-ash-smoke-toxic-cleanup-lawsuit-settlement
https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/landlord-tenant-fire-ash-smoke-cleaning-law-los-angeles
https://ffxfirerescue.wordpress.com
https://www.mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx
