Attachment B
AMENDED DECLARATION OF A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY DUE TO IMPACTS OF CRITICAL FIRE EVENTS AND WINDSTORM CONDITIONS IN THE CIF^ OF PASADENA Issue Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Amend Date: Monday, February 24,2025
WHEREAS, significant wildfires occurred on January 7, 2025, within Los Angeles County, including the Eaton Fire in ALtadena and Pasadena, which have resulted in widespread damage to property, disruption of services, and potential short and long-term health risks to the residents of our community; and
WHEREAS, mobile air monitoring test results from testing conducted on January 31, 2025 by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) were within background levels and below national standards and state health thresholds; and
WHEREAS, environmentaltesting at nine city facilities conducted on February 17 and February 21, 2025 by the City of Pasadena did not detect asbestos and all lead measurements were below the United States Environmental Protection Agency Dust Lead Action Level, a strict standard established to protect children in homes and childcare centers; and WhlEREAS, the immediate threat to human health and safety posed by fire and wildfire smoke has subsided as of the date of this amendment, allowing air quality to improve and recovery efforts to be launched to assess the community for potential environmental contaminants in public and private settings; and
WHEREAS, the fires are suspected to have cast potential contaminants into the air and have since settled on the ground but in unknown locations and concentrations, requiring coordination with county, state, and federal agencies to adopt a regional approach for measuring, interpreting, and sharing air, soil, and water testing results, so that the Pasadena Public Health Department may issue public health guidance to reduce potential risk of exposure; and WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 101040 authorizes the Local Health Officer to take any preventative measure that may be necessary to protect and preserve public health from any public health hazard during a declared State of Emergency and Local Emergency; WHEREAS, section 101080 of the California Health and Safety Code, states that the "Local Health Officer or Director may declare a local health emergency in the jurisdiction of any area thereof" affected by hazardous waste which is an imminent threat to the public's health;
NOW, THEREFORE, A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY IS HEREBY DECLARED PURSUANTTO CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 101040 AND 101080 AND PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 8.04.010, in the City of Pasadena. This declaration is issued to achieve the following goals:
1. Reduce potential risk of exposure to environmental contaminants that may be present in ash and particuLate matter caused by the wildfire conditions;
2. Ensure safe removal of toxic substances and debris from private properties that pose a substantial present and potential hazard to human health and safety and to the environment unless managed properly (e.g. lithium batteries, paint, other toxic substances); and
3. Position the City of Pasadena to access state and federal funding and other resources that support local efforts to protect public health.
lM-i^.2/24/2025
Parveen Kaur, M.D.
Acting Health Officer
City of Pasadena
Issue Date