4. Eaton Fire Local Health Emergency
Ensure vulnerable community members like low-income and immigrant workers working in post-disaster
recovery/cleanup know about safety and have access to personal protective equipment (PPE).1
Nonprofit Worksafe has been tracking alleged labor violations during wildfires across the state. “This is one of
the most dangerous kinds of situations that a worker can be in.” When a wildfire burns through a neighborhood,
the low-wage immigrants who work there lose jobs they rely on. Sometimes, they’re recruited into new jobs that
could jeopardize their health and safety.2
In the course of Climate Resolve’s research, it became apparent that vulnerable members of the community –
people who work as caretakers, day laborers, farm hands, landscape specialists and housekeepers – were
neglected during the Woolsey, Hill and Thomas fires.3
“I cleaned all the ash out of certain properties,” [Socorro] says. Socorro is one of dozens of domestic workers
across California who’ve shoveled wildfire ash out of houses [after the Tubbs fire]. Wildfire ash can be toxic, but
a previous KALW investigation4 found that many domestic workers are not provided with masks, gloves, or
other safety gear by their employers. [Socorro] remembers her head throbbing as she worked; at one point, her
nose started bleeding. When the job was over, she says her doctor prescribed her an inhaler to treat the
respiratory problems she developed.5
…domestic workers who participated in cleanups [after the Tubbs fire]…. ended up breaking out in rashes, and a
couple people had respiratory issues and had to go to hospital.6
Cal/OShlA has investigated a range of safety violations during wildfire cleanups over the past few years,
including workers who cleaned burnt or damaged homes.7
According to IDEPSCA8, domestic workers described deep-cleaning homes in Malibu [after the Woolsey Fire]
often without masks, gloves or other basic safety gear.
Yadi
Pasadena City Council Special Meeting
January 17,2025
4. Eaton Fire Local Health Emergency
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2httDS://Genterforhealthioumalism.ora/our-work/reDOrtina/when-fires-burn-thouah-neiahborhoods-some-immiarants-wor
kers-become-first
3 https://climateresolve.orc)/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WoolsevReport_Final.pdf
4 httDS://www.kalw.ora/Dost/california-s-wildfires-aet-worse-domestic-workers-fiaht-Drotection
5 httDs://centerforhealthiournalism.ora/our-work/reDortina/domestic-workers-learn-Dast-disasters-new-labor-riahts-fiaht
6 httDs://centerforhealthioumalism.ora/our-work/reDortina/domestic-workers-learn-Dast-disasters-new-labor-riahts-fiaht
zhttDs://centerforhealthioumalism.ora/our-work/reDortina/califomias-wildfires-aet-worse-domestic-workers-fiaht-Drotecti
on
8 https://www.idepsca.org/node/16 1/17/2025
Item 4