the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Mar 17, 2025
Despite a public outcry from residents and local officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is refusing to test the soil for toxic substances in areas affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires. FEMA officials say that removing six inches of topsoil makes it safe for residents.
But past experience tells the opposite. It is well known that, when household items burn, they release all kinds of hazardous substances into the air and soil. And heavy rains, as they occurred in the L.A. area after the fires, take these substances deeper into the soil and underground water.
Sure enough, tests done by universities and water utilities have found high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, in the air and groundwater in the fire zones—as much as five times higher than in areas without wildfires or heavy traffic. Tests also found dangerous levels of lead and arsenic in the soil, including below six inches.
The results of these initial tests definitely call for more testing, because of the serious health risks involved. VOCs form very fine particles which, when inhaled or ingested, can cause respiratory illness, heart disease and cancer. As for lead and other heavy metals, they are not only highly poisonous to humans, but even very small amounts of lead can stunt a child’s development, both physically and mentally.
FEMA itself was testing the soil in wildfire zones until about five years ago—and often finding high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil, including below six inches. But still, FEMA reversed that policy in 2020 and stopped testing the soil in burn zones.
And why? Because, FEMA officials say, those poisonous substances were probably already there before the fires started. As if it makes any difference to poisoned residents when the poison got into their backyard!
These officials’ complete disregard of people’s well-being is outrageous, but not surprising. These are the same officials, running the same government agencies that constantly cut the budget, lay off workers, and eliminate services that people, and especially working-class people, need—all so that government officials can transfer more of the tax money they collect from working people into the coffers of big companies.