Free Eaton Fire soil cleanup opens in Altadena area

Eaton Fire survivors who own homes in Altadena or the unincorporated Pasadena area may apply for no-cost soil work. Through the New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program, the Los Angeles County Development Authority will cover contractors’ services on properties that qualify. Those crews will check the ground for lead and address contamination found there. Applications are due Nov. 25 at noon.

The work may involve digging out roughly a foot of affected earth, then putting new soil in its place. Depending on the property, contractors may instead seal bare ground beneath landscaping materials such as mulch, stone or lawn. Completing the treatment may require as long as two weeks.

For residents rebuilding or returning after the fire, the program removes the expense of the covered testing and soil treatment from their property plans. Applications will be ranked according to the pilot’s priority order, so submitting a request does not itself establish when a property will receive the work.