More than seven months after the Eaton Fire resulted in the displacement of thousands of residents, Los Angeles County health officials have issued a warning to landlords regarding the necessary cleanup of toxic ash in rental properties located in Altadena.
This guidance was published on the Department of Public Health’s website earlier this week, stating that the county presumes all housing in Altadena has been impacted by the fire and requires remediation.
The notice specifies that landlords are required to address hazardous ash, soot, and smoke damage in rental units and keep them safe and habitable.
This development follows a lawsuit filed by renters against the Department of Public Health in May, which alleged that the county had not upheld tenants’ rights to habitable living conditions after the fire.
Katie Clark, an organizer with the Altadena Tenants Union, which she helped found shortly after the Eaton Fire, praised the clarification from the county as a result of renters advocating for their rights.
“It’s something that honestly should have happened immediately after the fire,” Clark commented. “But better late than never.”
When LAist inquired about the timing of this notice, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Health declined to comment on ongoing litigation but indicated that landlords who fail to comply may face administrative hearings, resulting in fines and other repercussions.
Leora Mosman, a resident of Altadena, found her apartment on Lake Avenue intact after the fire, though nearby buildings were destroyed. She reported having reached out to the county months following the incident about the lack of cleanup in her unit but received no response or inspection.
“There’s really been no action from the county to communicate to renters what their rights are and what the responsibilities of landlords are to make units habitable,” Mosman said. “It became super clear to us that we were really going to be on our own.”
Following the fire, Mosman and her partner initially lived in hotels until their insurance coverage expired, after which they relocated to an apartment in Glendale. They still hope to return to Altadena, but Mosman expressed uncertainty about whether the necessary remediation has taken place in their apartment.
Mosman noted that her landlord indicated in July that a structural cleaning had been performed, but tenants have not received testing results for lead or other hazardous materials.
In response to the county’s recent notice, Mosman expressed hope for being able to return to her home safely, stating, “We’re planning to go ahead and file complaints and ask for an inspection.”
She emphasized the need for clarity on the remediation efforts undertaken and for assurance that the units are safe to inhabit.
While some landlords have already contracted professionals to clean their properties, concerns remain for others who have yet to remove fire-related ash and soot. Tenants in those units either continue to reside in temporary housing or have returned to apartments they suspect could pose health risks.
Clark pointed out that many people’s financial support is dwindling, stating, “What we’re hearing from everybody is that it is August, support is running out, money is running out, and people don’t have a lot of choices.”
Landlord advocates acknowledged the necessity for property owners to ensure that their units are habitable but raised concerns about the practicalities of the county’s enforcement approach.
Fred Sutton, speaking on behalf of the California Apartment Association, stated in an email, “Because these conditions can vary widely, these issues should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, both to address real hazards and to determine when a perceived concern does not present an actual risk.”
The situation in Pasadena has also drawn attention, as the city was sued by renters over similar concerns related to fire remediation in rental housing. While officials in Pasadena initially advised tenants that ash from the Eaton Fire was toxic, they maintained that renters would need to pursue legal action against landlords for cleanup, citing a lack of specific provisions in the city’s building code concerning ash.
Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian informed LAist that the city has produced a guide for cleaning housing units affected by wildfires and that these guidelines are provided to landlords and tenants during inspections related to complaints regarding ash, soot, or smoke.
However, the guide does not clarify who is ultimately responsible for executing the remediation work.
In contrast, Clark regards Los Angeles County’s recent guidance as a reasonable step forward, remarking, “We’re hopeful that the city of Pasadena also feels that way. But to date, I haven’t heard that there’s been any movement.”
As the lawsuits against both the county and Pasadena progress, residents continue to advocate for transparency and accountability from landlords and local authorities to ensure safe housing in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.
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