Eaton Fire Victims Demand Action on Persistent Toxins Post-Cleanup

Persistent Dangers After Fire Cleanup

• ⚠️ Many residents impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires are concerned that their homes remain unsafe due to dangerous toxins and poisonous chemicals.
• 🎯 A recent survey indicated that 7 out of 10 residents are still not back in their homes, facing delays in remediation, testing, and insurance processes.

Calls for Comprehensive Remediation and Testing

• 🔑 The advocacy group Eaton Fire Residents United emphasizes the need for a strict process of remediation, post-remediation testing, and clearance status before owners can move back in.
• 🔬 Testing of approximately 50 homes post-remediation revealed still high levels of lead and asbestos, prompting concerns that insurance companies are pushing for occupancy without adequate cleanup.
• 💡 It is crucial to normalize the understanding that multiple rounds of remediation may be necessary to achieve clearance status.

Personal Experiences and Challenges

• 🏠 One resident, living less than half a mile from the fire's edge, found extensive lead and asbestos in their home, alongside other contaminants.
• 🛠️ Navigating the process of finding a trusted, licensed remediation company has been difficult, with many unqualified companies causing failed remediation efforts.
• ⏳ The resident is stuck in an in-between state, unable to return home while dealing with insurance agreements and remediation costs.

Demands for Elected Officials and Insurance Companies

• 📣 The group is urging elected officials to work with insurance companies to ensure that remediation jobs are completed comprehensively and to achieve clearance status.
• 🏛️ They are advocating for Governor Newsom to establish an ASH (After-School Health) program to define clear boundaries of impact and alert residents who might be unknowingly affected.
• 🤝 The goal is to pressure the Insurance Commissioner to ensure insurance companies finish the job and restore homes to pre-fire condition for safe return.