Post Wildfire: Before You Rebuild or Conduct Landscaping, Consider Having Your Soil Tested for CAM 17 Metals

In response to the environmental risks posed by recent wildland-urban interface fires (WUI), Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC) recommends homeowners, businesses, and industrial facilities consider soil testing for CAM 17 metals before beginning any rebuilding or landscaping efforts.

Urban wildfires often release harmful substances into the air, soil, and water, particularly from the burning of buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure. These fires can deposit dangerous levels of CAM 17 metals such as lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and mercury on surrounding properties.

“Testing for these metals is essential not just for safety, but also for regulatory compliance, liability protection, and peace of mind,” says Jeff Bannon, Vice President of Environmental Services at CSC. “Even trace amounts of certain metals can pose serious health risks, especially to children, pregnant individuals, and vulnerable populations.”

Hiring a certified environmental testing company like CSC ensures accurate sampling, laboratory analysis, and expert interpretation of results. This testing helps guide safe cleanup, protects property values, and prevents future exposure risks.

In the wake of recent urban wildfires, the LA County Board of Supervisors recently allocated $3 million to help homeowners near the Eaton burn area test for lead contamination. The funds will support soil testing for residential property owners living near the burn area, focusing on those within a one-mile radius of the burn zone and in areas downwind of the fire.

In the coming weeks, CSC will communicate information about the top five CAM 17 metals, in terms of danger level. The company hopes to educate the public so they can better understand the risks of CAM 17 metals and make informed decisions about their well-being and property.

To schedule a consultation or learn more about post-wildfire environmental assessments, contact CSC at 800-807-1118 or visit www.csceng.com

About Clark Seif Clark, Inc. (CSC)
CSC was established in 1996 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, and environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers, and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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