“Environmental disaster”: Toxic aftermath of Los Angeles fires puts public at risk, experts warn

The unprecedented Los Angeles fires for nearly two months have burned the entire societies and Thousands displaced Among the people, all of them were contained, but questions about the remaining environmental disaster – and their impact on local communities – are still strong.

Almost immediately after the fires, many environmental experts warned that this is a fire in urban areas, unlike anything we have seen before. They argued that comparisons with terrorist attacks on September 11, other forest fires and major cleaning efforts had to be short.

After months of the outbreak of the first fires, many remain homeless, in an attempt to return to their societies or access to drinking water. For many others, concerns about the safety of air and water quality in the Los Angeles region remain the second largest city in the United States.

Few people in the area were fortified fires: Ross JerberA climate activist and invested early from Tesla and CEO of Geerber Kawasaki Wealite & Investment Management, he was only able to return to his home in Pacific Palisades in early March.

“It is an environmental disaster, and they are [city authorities] They demonstrate like, “Oh, it will only disappear.” But now he sits on our beaches, similar to going to the sand, and it is possible that if they do not deal with this, it may be years of pollution for the beaches of Los Angeles or more. “

Even influencing money managers, such as Jerber, were apparently unable to face the response of local governments to forest fires and direct beyond.

A car that was destroyed is distinguished by the Eiton fire as a non -electric car and does not contain large batteries EV on January 29, 2025 in Altadena, California. (David McKino/Getty Emiez)

He said: “The rescuers are standing there, and I was like, O shouted, you will not tell these people to get out of the water?” , Describing a recent confrontation on the beach. I thought if I started telling people to get their children out of water, they would be like, “leave us alone.” “

GERBER was not the only one concerned with local response and application on the ground for the city’s instructions, as public officials rushed to balance public safety with political considerations.

Jin Williams, CEO of California Customers against toxins, warned during a Online symposium It was hosted by a clean air alliance on January 16, comparing the Los Angeles fires immediately with the impact of 9/11. “[That was] One of the largest general health disasters in the country’s history, and we are facing the same problem exactly in Los Angeles now: trying to intercept these exposure. “

The response of the local authorities and their messages to health risks was uneven, as many of the displaced population struggled to obtain clear guidelines on the cleaning schedule or drinking water condition in their areas.

In Pacific Palisades, the Ministry of Water and Power was found in Los Angeles Parking levels of gasoline, known carcinogenic material, in several locations It is still working to solve pollution, according to the Los Angeles Times. At the same time, the societies of the club I am still waiting for the final statement From the state to raising notifications “Do not drink”.

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Many residents have turned into local Facebook and private correspondence panels in an attempt to move in the local bureaucracy, and they often make difficult personal calls for what is safe for their families.

The popularity of electric cars in California and the size of damaged electric cars in fires added another layer of complexity to the cleaning efforts.

“Perhaps the largest lithium -ion battery, cleaning, this happened in the history NBC Los Angeles a report.

While some of the beaches that were closed before due to the wreckage of the fire, others were reopened It remains closed. Health officials advise the public to verify the latest updates from the Ministry of Public Health in Los Angeles Province or contact the hotline to close the beach at 1-800-525-5662 to obtain the latest information.

When it comes to air quality, officials mostly warned against avoiding external activities in visible quality or visual air quality, but some safety experts say that many toxic particles may be difficult to see.

“The particles are very small so that they can reach the brain,” Ed Avol, an honorary professor at the University of Southern California University in the same coalition at the clean air event. “The ability to focus, pay attention to school, and dementia – we are looking at a set of results. It affects your metabolic system.”

While the ruler of California Gavin News a description “The fastest effort to remove the dangerous debris in the nation” as of February 25, many questions about air safety, water and healthy influence remain in the long run. The NEWSOM office did not respond to Salon’s request for comment.

“They are driving these trucks directly via West Los Angeles through residential neighborhoods,” said Jerber. “The full idea that they use any level of safety is ridiculous.”