Altadena Community Soil Testing Day

About this event

Fires can impact the soil in our communities — but testing it is simple, free, and helps keep our families and neighbors safe. Join the USC CLEAN team and the Department of Angels for a free soil testing event with expert guidance, easy sample collection and drop-off, plus food, music, and activities for all ages.

Why soil testing matters

Testing our soil helps guide a safe recovery.

Prolonged exposure to lead is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women, and lead doesn’t break down over time. Ash and smoke can carry lead from burned buildings into nearby yards. Soil testing gives you quick, reliable results so you can make informed choices for your home, family, and community.

So far, the USC CLEAN team has processed over 3,000 soil samples from fire-impacted neighborhoods. The good news: most Eaton Fire area samples are below state and federal safety thresholds for lead. But every yard is different, and knowing your own results matters. Testing your soil is important and easy.

How to participate

You can bring a soil sample from your yard after taking the CLEAN intake survey and reading the sampling guidelines. Or, stop by to watch a live soil sampling demonstration before collecting your sample. Then, return your soil sample to the event, where it will be sent to the lab for testing. Results will be available digitally within three weeks.