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 refreshments, music, and activities for all ages
REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/palisades-community-soil-testing-day-tickets-1962656369033?aff=oddtdtcreator
Soil Testing Day: What to Expect
At this event, neighbors can:
- Learn how to collect soil samples and submit them for free lead testing
- Connect with trusted soil and health experts ready to answer your questions
- Access free blood lead level testing from the LA County Department of Public Health
- Enjoy refreshments, music, and activities for all ages
Activities Include:
- Resource Fair
- Expert Talks
- Free Mobile Coffee Bar with Pastries
- Family-Friendly Interactive Stations – Sponsored by Sandy Day Kids, featuring custom buttons and pin making, spin art, and slime making
Why Soil Testing Day 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.
Powered by support from FireAid and others, the USC CLEAN team has processed over 4,000 soil samples from fire-impacted neighborhoods across the Eaton and Palisades areas. The good news: most 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 to the event after taking the CLEAN intake survey and reading the sampling guide. Or, come to the event 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 a few weeks.
Can’t make it to your property? Volunteers will also be available at the event to collect samples for you.
If you’d like to volunteer to collect soil samples on behalf of neighbors who can’t make it, please make that selection in your registration.
All participants and volunteers must complete a waiver form prior to participating. A separate photo consent form is available for those who agree to be photographed or recorded during the event.
Soil Testing Day Venue Instructions
Location: The event will take place at the Polo Field at Will Rogers State Park. Signs will be posted on the day of the event to help direct participants to the location
Parking: We recommend attendees carpool if possible. Parking will be FREE—but only if you park at Sarah’s Point, right below the polo field, and prominently display a parking pass on your windshield. Our parking attendants will hand out passes on the day of the event. Sarah’s Point is located just South of the Polo Field, see Google Maps location here.
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 Pali LTRG here: https://paliltrg.org/about-us/
Pali LTRG conducts and coordinates wellness programs, recovery education, and events that reconnect our entire community. Please join us for future official Pali LTRG events or select partner events that will empower and reconnect our Pacific Palisades community. https://paliltrg.org/events/
Connect with us: https://www.facebook.com/people/Pali-LTRG-Palisades-Long-Term-Recovery-Group/61579829248906/?mibextid=ZbWKwL
