Overview
- An Eaton Fire Residents United compilation of 50 post-remediation reports found lead in 43 of 45 homes tested, with 63% of floors and half of sampled windowsills exceeding EPA screening or remediation levels.
- About one-third of homes checked for asbestos (9 of 25) tested positive, with average surface dust concentrations above an ad‑hoc EPA benchmark used after 9/11, underscoring the lack of a formal clearance standard for interiors.
- Testing and cleanup approaches varied widely because insurers and multiple contractors set differing protocols, and some reports did not test for lead or asbestos despite county health warnings about both hazards.
- The resident coalition is asking the California Department of Insurance to require insurers to fund testing and additional rounds of remediation, while also seeking an official “ash zone,” clearance-before-occupancy, and extended relocation benefits.
- Independent scientists caution that sample sizes and methods vary, though Caltech’s François Tissot called the findings worrying and said further standardized testing is underway.