FEMA rejects call by Newsom’s office to test soil in fire areas for toxic contaminants

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief disaster officer urged FEMA to reconsider skipping post-cleanup soil testing for LA County wildfires, but FEMA declined, citing concerns about delays and costs. California officials and residents are worried about toxic chemicals in fire-damaged soil and want testing, but FEMA argues that it hinders recovery efforts and is unnecessary, despite past instances of contamination exceeding cleanup standards. The disagreement highlights differing views on balancing efficiency and safety in wildfire cleanup procedures.

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