South Coast AQMD Expands Air Quality Monitoring for Eaton and Palisades Fires
DIAMOND BAR—Today, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD)
began air monitoring efforts in the burn scars and surrounding communities of the Eaton Fire
and Palisades Fire. South Coast AQMD has been working closely with federal, state and local
agencies, supporting ongoing emergency response and cleanup efforts.
Debris removal could cause hazardous dust and ash to become airborne. This initiative,
requested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in close coordination with the California
Air Resources Board, will assess air quality during debris removal or other activities.
South Coast AQMD’s monitoring efforts will occur in two key stages.
Stage One: Mobile Monitoring of Air Toxics
Two mobile monitoring vehicles will be deployed over a four-week period. Mobile monitors
provide instantaneous measurements for toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
and identify potential hot spots in areas near the Eaton and Palisades Fire zones. Results of the
mobile monitoring will help identify locations for temporary air monitoring stations.
Stage Two: Stationary Air Monitoring
Placement of monitoring stations will be determined based on mobile monitoring results,
cleanup activity, sensitive receptors (such as residents and schools) and meteorological
conditions. These stations will include air monitors that will provide data for particulate matter (PM), lead, arsenic, and asbestos in communities near the burn zones.
South Coast AQMD will continue to work closely with federal, state and local agencies as well as
the local public health agencies to provide the public with air monitoring data from these
efforts.