Altadena Community Soil Testing Day
Free soil health event with expert guidance, easy sample collection, plus food, music & activities.
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.
What to Expect
At this event, neighbors can:
- Learn how to collect soil samples and submit them for free lead testing
- Connect with trusted health experts ready to answer your questions
- Access free blood lead level testing from the LA County Department of Public Health
- Enjoy food, music, and activities for all ages
Activities Include:
- Free 30-minute yoga classes (bring your own mat if you have one, please!)
- Guided grounding meditations
- Plant potting
- Paint & sip with fruit-infused sparkling water
- Story time, coloring station, and bubble machine
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.
Thanks to Our Partners
Thanks to our partners for providing soil health resources, activities, and more:
About The Department of Angels
The Department of Angels is an independent nonprofit formed in the immediate aftermath of the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. They exist to make sure fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles can lead their own recovery — on their terms — with the support, resources, and know-how they need to thrive.
About USC CLEAN
Contaminant Level Evaluation and Analysis for Neighborhoods (CLEAN) is a rapid response soil testing program from the USC Department of Earth Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, and Public Exchange. CLEAN is a free service provided to all L.A. County residents to evaluate levels of lead contamination in soils in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. CLEAN makes soil testing results easy to understand with their lead interpretation guide that has recommendations on next steps to best protect your health.
About LA County Department of Public Health
In April 2025, the Department of Public Health launched a new soil testing program. Up to $3 million from the Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program has been allocated to fund free soil lead testing for residents living within and downwind of the Eaton Fire burn area.
DENA Heals' purpose is to support families through direct aid and resources, mental health services, legal education, and community healing practices.
Altadena Green is working to preserve and restore the character, heritage and culture of the tree canopy of Altadena.
Amigos de Los Ríos is helping provide equitable access to nature and protecting our environment and urban communities from the threats of climate change. They have a FREE Tree Watering Assistance program for Altadena’s homeowners to protect and preserve the community canopy.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has provided mental health, substance use disorder and suicide prevention services since 1942. Didi Hirsch provides compassionate whole-person care to more than 270,000 people annually across its programs.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
In the aftermath of the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), in coordination with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), is assisting Los Angeles County in recovery efforts by providing guidance to help residents and environmental professionals evaluate and clean up wildfire-related contamination in soil. The guidance includes soil testing recommendations based on property condition, free soil testing programs, cleanup options and protective actions, as well as help understanding results and health screening levels.
Eaton Fire Residents United is a coalition of concerned residents, formed in the wake of the devastating Eaton Fire of 2025 with a mission is to ensure a safe, just, and transparent public health recovery process for the Eaton Fire-affected community. Through community organizing, public engagement, and education, they champion a resilient and empowered Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. EFRU promotes thorough testing, clear remediation guidelines, insurance accountability, and universal distribution of resources for impacted businesses and residents, including children, homeowners, renters, insured, and uninsured.
The Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) is an international non-profit uplifting and empowering the global community through innovative ideas and skills, based on neuroscience and the wisdom of the body.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources shares science-based information and practices to improve lives and livelihoods. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources' Master Gardener group will share information about their organic top cover project and resources on gardening and tree maintenance post-fire.
Hands In The Soil (HITS) is a family-founded nonprofit organization. Our mission is to cultivate healthy habits and spiritual well-being through community practice. We emphasize preventative holistic wellness, nature connection, and supportive intergenerational communities.
Jazzy Jam uplifts youth through music, movement, and the arts. They provide creative, culturally relevant, and hands-on educational programming, workshops, and training opportunities that are rooted in real-life experiences. Their initiatives are designed not only to promote awareness but also to cultivate healthy lifestyle habits, emotional resilience, and community connection—especially among underserved populations.
Bevel Coffee is a mobile espresso bar and roaster based in Altadena, CA. Nestled near Eaton Canyon amongst the beautiful San Gabriel mountain range and partnered with Prime Pizza's new Altadena location, they serve coffee 5 days a week from their trusty mobile espresso bar on Prime Pizza's outdoor patio, and host pop-ups at farmer's markets, other businesses, and cater private events in the surrounding areas.
Sugarbloom is an LA-based bakery specializing in croissants and other pastries.
Free soil health event with expert guidance, easy sample collection, plus food, music & activities.
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.
What to Expect
At this event, neighbors can:
- Learn how to collect soil samples and submit them for free lead testing
- Connect with trusted health experts ready to answer your questions
- Access free blood lead level testing from the LA County Department of Public Health
- Enjoy food, music, and activities for all ages
Activities Include:
- Free 30-minute yoga classes (bring your own mat if you have one, please!)
- Guided grounding meditations
- Plant potting
- Paint & sip with fruit-infused sparkling water
- Story time, coloring station, and bubble machine
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.
Thanks to Our Partners
Thanks to our partners for providing soil health resources, activities, and more:
About The Department of Angels
The Department of Angels is an independent nonprofit formed in the immediate aftermath of the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. They exist to make sure fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles can lead their own recovery — on their terms — with the support, resources, and know-how they need to thrive.
About USC CLEAN
Contaminant Level Evaluation and Analysis for Neighborhoods (CLEAN) is a rapid response soil testing program from the USC Department of Earth Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, and Public Exchange. CLEAN is a free service provided to all L.A. County residents to evaluate levels of lead contamination in soils in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires. CLEAN makes soil testing results easy to understand with their lead interpretation guide that has recommendations on next steps to best protect your health.
About LA County Department of Public Health
In April 2025, the Department of Public Health launched a new soil testing program. Up to $3 million from the Lead Paint Hazard Mitigation Program has been allocated to fund free soil lead testing for residents living within and downwind of the Eaton Fire burn area.
DENA Heals' purpose is to support families through direct aid and resources, mental health services, legal education, and community healing practices.
Altadena Green is working to preserve and restore the character, heritage and culture of the tree canopy of Altadena.
Amigos de Los Ríos is helping provide equitable access to nature and protecting our environment and urban communities from the threats of climate change. They have a FREE Tree Watering Assistance program for Altadena’s homeowners to protect and preserve the community canopy.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has provided mental health, substance use disorder and suicide prevention services since 1942. Didi Hirsch provides compassionate whole-person care to more than 270,000 people annually across its programs.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
In the aftermath of the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), in coordination with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), is assisting Los Angeles County in recovery efforts by providing guidance to help residents and environmental professionals evaluate and clean up wildfire-related contamination in soil. The guidance includes soil testing recommendations based on property condition, free soil testing programs, cleanup options and protective actions, as well as help understanding results and health screening levels.
Eaton Fire Residents United is a coalition of concerned residents, formed in the wake of the devastating Eaton Fire of 2025 with a mission is to ensure a safe, just, and transparent public health recovery process for the Eaton Fire-affected community. Through community organizing, public engagement, and education, they champion a resilient and empowered Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. EFRU promotes thorough testing, clear remediation guidelines, insurance accountability, and universal distribution of resources for impacted businesses and residents, including children, homeowners, renters, insured, and uninsured.
The Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) is an international non-profit uplifting and empowering the global community through innovative ideas and skills, based on neuroscience and the wisdom of the body.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources shares science-based information and practices to improve lives and livelihoods. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources' Master Gardener group will share information about their organic top cover project and resources on gardening and tree maintenance post-fire.
Hands In The Soil (HITS) is a family-founded nonprofit organization. Our mission is to cultivate healthy habits and spiritual well-being through community practice. We emphasize preventative holistic wellness, nature connection, and supportive intergenerational communities.
Jazzy Jam uplifts youth through music, movement, and the arts. They provide creative, culturally relevant, and hands-on educational programming, workshops, and training opportunities that are rooted in real-life experiences. Their initiatives are designed not only to promote awareness but also to cultivate healthy lifestyle habits, emotional resilience, and community connection—especially among underserved populations.
Bevel Coffee is a mobile espresso bar and roaster based in Altadena, CA. Nestled near Eaton Canyon amongst the beautiful San Gabriel mountain range and partnered with Prime Pizza's new Altadena location, they serve coffee 5 days a week from their trusty mobile espresso bar on Prime Pizza's outdoor patio, and host pop-ups at farmer's markets, other businesses, and cater private events in the surrounding areas.