We, the parents, caregivers, educators, and concerned community members, call on the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) to conduct comprehensive environmental testing and remediation at Altadena Arts Magnet Elementary School (AAM) following the devastating Eaton Fire.

Par padres, cuidadores, educadores y miembros preocupados de la comunidad, que gustan apoyar esta, petición por favor leer la petición aquí.

The Eaton Fire was the second most destructive urban wildfire in California history. AAM’s Calaveras campus is located within the wildfire burn area and lies within 250 yards of 75 burned properties. In addition to its proximity to destroyed residential structures, the campus is also near several commercial properties—such as grocery stores and laundromats—that were burned in the fire. This is known to release especially toxic chemical loads.

Despite some surface testing for ash, soot, and char, the level of interior testing completed by PUSD to date is insufficient given the scale and nature of the fire. Nearby soil has already shown confirmed lead contamination, and there are numerous reports of hazardous toxins, including lead, being detected indoors near the Eaton Fire—even in buildings that had already undergone remediation.

We therefore request the following actions from PUSD:
 
1. Comprehensive Indoor Environmental Testing
PUSD must engage a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to conduct thorough indoor testing across the AAM Calaveras campus, using protocols appropriate for school settings as outlined by the EPA and other public health agencies. Testing should include, but not be limited to:

• A full HVAC system inspection
• Particle testing for suspended particulate matter
• Wipe and air sampling for the following wildfire-related contaminants:
  • Asbestos
  • Dioxins and Furans (PCDDs/PCDFs)
  • Hydrogen Cyanide
  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Title 22 Metals (including Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, and Selenium)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

2. Installation of a Commercial-Grade VOC Monitor
Due to the campus’s unique proximity to burned commercial sites, ongoing VOC monitoring is critical. We request the installation of a commercial-grade VOC monitor inside the Calaveras campus to provide continuous, real-time indoor air quality data. The monitoring results must be made readily available to parents to ensure transparency and community trust.

 
3. Replacement of Porous Materials
We have serious concerns about whether porous materials at the Calaveras campus were properly assessed or remediated. These materials are known to trap hazardous contaminants such as asbestos, dioxins, and PAHs, which can penetrate deep into fibers and cannot be fully removed through cleaning. We request that all such materials be replaced, and that non-porous alternatives be used where feasible. The specific items of concern include:

• Acoustic ceiling tiles
• Acoustic wall finishes
• Carpeting
• Fabric blinds
• Theater curtains
• Upholstered furniture (e.g., modular sofa in the library, beanbags)

Failure to replace these materials could have serious health consequences, as history has shown. After 9/11, students at Stuyvesant High School developed cancer following exposure to asbestos-contaminated carpet and upholstery that was not replaced. Nearly a year later, parents independently tested a piece of the carpet and discovered it was heavily contaminated with asbestos. We must not allow a similar oversight in PUSD.

 
4. Post-Remediation Confirmation Testing and Full Transparency
We request that testing be conducted after the Army Corps of Engineers and their contractors have removed all equipment from the AAM Calaveras blacktop. Following any necessary remediation, confirmation testing must be performed to verify that contaminants have been properly addressed.

PUSD should provide the community with:

• The full CIH report
• All associated laboratory results
• Clear, prompt communication of testing outcomes and documentation

All remediation work must be performed by a qualified third-party firm, and all testing, remediation, and follow-up testing should be completed prior to the scheduled return of students and staff to the Calaveras site.

 
5. Environmental Assessment of the Temporary Site at Allendale Elementary
The AAM temporary location at Allendale Elementary must also undergo a full environmental assessment this summer. This includes an inspection for lead-based paint and other potential hazards, with remediation completed before the start of the school year.

 
This is an issue of equity.
Altadena Arts Magnet is a Title I school, where 63% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Canyon Charter Elementary, a non-Title I school in LAUSD, received comprehensive post-wildfire testing despite being located further from the nearest burned structure. Comprehensive testing after a wildfire should not be viewed as an optional benefit afforded to more resourced or privileged school communities—it should be a baseline standard of care for all children, especially those who may be more vulnerable to environmental harms. 

We respectfully urge PUSD to match LAUSD’s testing response, demonstrating a continued commitment to both equity and safety.

We urge Pasadena Unified School District to demonstrate its commitment to equity, health, and well-being of students and staff by meeting these requests without delay.