L.A.’s new data dashboard tracks environmental health after January wildfires
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launched an interactive dashboard that tracks environmental and health data collected in response to the wildfires that devastated the region this year. The fires burned more than 55,082 acres, killed at least 24 people and displaced more than 100,000.
The tool aims to support long-term recovery efforts by offering a visual overview of monitoring locations across the county, including areas where assessments are being conducted for air, surface, water and human health impacts. The assessments evaluate indoor and outdoor air quality to detect pollutants that may affect respiratory health and test for contaminants on indoor surfaces, soil, coastal sand and wildfire debris like ash and soot to assess exposure risks.
The dashboard also shows the results of samples taken from coastal waters, freshwater sources, and pools to monitor for wildfire-related contamination as well as displays voluntary blood lead testing to determine potential exposure, especially for children and other vulnerable populations.
The platform includes the county’s Post-Fire Assessment Plan, which provides assessment activities conducted by government and academic institutions occurring in areas impacted by the fires, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, L.A. Fire Health Study Consortium, Department of Toxic Substances Control and others.
In response to the destructive wildfires, which reached 100% containment in February, California has launched multiple IT initiatives in recent months, including expanding its Login.gov website so victims of the L.A. wildfires can access state benefits and federal aid through a single portal and creating the fire recovery tracking website that explains the parts of the recovery process, such as debris removal.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that provides $170 million to support forest and vegetation management projects critical to protecting communities from wildfire and issued an executive order to fast-track projects aimed at statewide wildfire prevention.
