Removal & Restoration

Following the Eaton Fire, and related public health guidance, including the Pasadena Public Health Department’s Guidance for Schools and Early Childhood Education Centers to Prevent Lead Exposure, PUSD conducted environmental testing at District campuses and sites.

That testing identified fire-related contaminants, including lead, arsenic, and other substances, in soil at multiple District properties. Areas where impacted soil was identified were closed to protect students, staff, families, and community members.

Eight campuses were cleaned up prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The remaining 11 campuses and sites have significant volumes of fire-related contaminant-impacted soil that must be removed and replaced so campuses can safely reopen for the 2026-2027 school year.

PUSD and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) are aligned in their commitment to oversee safe soil cleanup and restoration. See the DTSC’s February 25, 2026 letter. The District is working carefully and urgently to complete this work before students return.

PUSD’s environmental testing evaluated fire-related contaminants in soil, including heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc. Samples were also tested for asbestos fibers. A subset of samples, based on location and sensitive areas, was also analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dioxins and furans. Based on the findings of the environmental testing: arsenic, lead, PAHs, and dioxins and furans were detected above regulatory screening values in surficial soil at 19 campuses and properties.

These substances can be associated with fire-damaged structures, ash, debris, and contaminated soil. The District’s focus is on removing fire-related contaminant-impacted soil so students, staff, and families can safely use campus spaces again.

Children can be exposed to lead by swallowing, having dermal (skin) contact, or breathing in lead-contaminated soil.  Lead exposure is especially concerning for children under six years of age, since very young children tend to put their hands in their mouths, some young children eat soil and lead has a greater effect on developing brains and nervous systems. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment also notes that lead in soil and dust screening levels are used to help identify areas needing further evaluation or cleanup. DTSC Lead in Soil Fact Sheet  

PUSD’s responsibility is to protect students from avoidable exposure to contaminated soil on school campuses. That is why the District closed impacted outdoor areas and is removing and replacing fire-related contaminant impacted soil.

The current soil removal and restoration work involves 11 District campuses and sites:

Blair High School
Cleveland Elementary School, former site
Field Elementary
Franklin Elementary site
Jefferson Dual Language Children’s Center
John Muir High School Early College Magnet
Longfellow Elementary Magnet
Octavia E. Butler Magnet
PUSD Education Center
San Rafael Elementary
Washington Elementary STEM Magnet School

Four additional fire-burned campuses are pending future review: Eliot, Edison, Noyes, and Loma Alta.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) provides regulatory oversight for this work and will review final soil removal completion reports. PUSD and DTSC are aligned in their commitment to oversee safe soil cleanup and restoration of PUSD campuses following the Eaton Fire.

During soil removal, the District’s environmental consultant, Verdantas, is on site conducting testing and monitoring to ensure impacted soil is properly removed and that clean soil brought back to the site meets applicable safety standards.

No. PUSD has an obligation to address fire-related contaminant-impacted soil that poses a health and safety risk on school campuses. DTSC affirms that timely action to remove all impacted soil constitutes the most protective and effective approach on the school properties.

DTSC concurred that there is an imminent and substantial threat to school property users. The work is being done because environmental testing identified fire-related contaminant-impacted soil, outdoor areas have been closed since last year, and the District must return students, staff, and families to safe, healthy, fully usable campuses.

The impacted soil removal work must be completed while students are off campus. The District is working during the summer break so campuses can reopen fully and safely for the 2026-2027 school year.

Every delay makes it harder to complete the work before students return and extends the time that play areas, fields, gardens, and other outdoor spaces remain closed.

PUSD does not want to remove a single tree unnecessarily. The District understands and shares the community’s deep concern for campus trees.

Some trees are located within areas where fire-related contaminant-impacted soil must be removed. In those areas, removing the contaminated soil can require removing trees, vegetation, stumps, roots, and other affected infrastructure so the impacted soil can be fully excavated and replaced with clean soil.

PUSD is reviewing impacted areas site by site and tree by tree to preserve as many native and mature trees as can safely remain. Where no feasible alternative allows contaminated soil to be removed safely and on time, tree removal may be necessary.

DTSC is providing regulatory oversight of the soil cleanup and restoration process. PUSD and DTSC are aligned that the fire-related contaminant impacted soil must be addressed to protect students, staff, and the community.

DTSC affirms that timely action to remove all impacted soil constitutes the most protective and effective approach on the school properties. The decision to remove specific trees is based on whether they are located in contaminated soil removal areas and whether there is a feasible way in a timely manner to remove the impacted soil while preserving the tree. PUSD has worked extensively with environmental consultants, arborists, and DTSC to evaluate soil removal approaches. Where trees can safely remain, PUSD is working to preserve them. Where they cannot, the District must complete the soil removal necessary to protect students and reopen campuses safely.

Yes. PUSD is attempting to preserve as many native and mature trees as can safely remain.

The District is attempting to preserve native or mature trees located in contaminated soil areas that meet the following specifications:

A trunk more than 18 inches in diameter at a height of 4½ feet, referred to as diameter-at-breast-height, or DBH, above natural grade that is one of the following species: Coast live oak, Engelmann oak, Canyon oak, California sycamore, California walnut, Scrub oak, Valley oak, California bay, Cottonwood, California alder, Black cottonwood, Arroyo willow, and California buckeye.

For other tree species not listed above, the District is attempting to preserve trees with a DBH of 19 inches or greater.

DTSC affirms that timely action to remove all impacted soil constitutes the most protective and effective approach on the school properties. The decision is based on whether the tree is located in a contaminated soil removal area, not whether students typically play directly under or around that specific tree.

Contaminated soil and dust can move through wind, rain, foot traffic, maintenance activity, and other normal campus uses. PUSD’s responsibility is to restore campuses as safe, fully usable school environments, not to leave contaminated hazardous areas in place because they are less frequently used.

No protected trees were removed on July 1 at John Muir Early College Magnet.

The District is abiding by the Board of Education’s authorization to preserve as many native and/or mature trees as possible through alternative methods. Trees cut at John Muir that week did not meet the criteria described above, and included a Sweetgum with a DBH less than 19 inches, three smaller Coast Live Oaks with DBHs of 6 inches, and other non-native or non-mature trees with DBHs of 6 inches or less.

The Icee Blue Yellow-Wood trees removed were tree ID F-70 through F-76, with DBHs of 14 inches. None met the native and/or mature definition under the criteria described above.

Air knifing uses compressed air and vacuum excavation to carefully remove soil from around tree roots while minimizing damage to the roots themselves.

PUSD used this technique around all six protected trees located in the front lawn, to a depth of approximately six inches and, in some locations, as much as one foot. Testing of the exposed soil continued to show elevated levels of lead.

Because air knifing is designed to remove soil selectively around roots and minimize disturbance, it does not necessarily leave the kind of obvious excavation footprint people may expect to see afterward. The area can still appear relatively undisturbed at the surface even though subsurface soil around the critical root zone has been carefully exposed and evaluated.

The District’s arborist concluded that going deeper and removing additional contaminated soil would compromise major structural roots, creating a high likelihood that these very large trees would become unstable or fail. DTSC reviewed this report, and determined that standard excavation methods requiring tree removal would be necessary to remove the contaminated soil. 

So while air knifing allowed PUSD to investigate whether the trees could be preserved, it did not provide a safe way to remove enough soil to complete the remediation as outlined in our DTSC-approved Removal Action Workplan.

San Rafael Elementary School has more than 20 times the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) removal limit for arsenic concentrations in some areas of its campus. After reviewing laboratory test results, DTSC stated that there is an “imminent and substantial threat to school property users” and that “timely action to remove all impacted soil constitutes the most protective and effective approach on the school properties.” San Rafael is one of the sites with a site-specific Removal Action Workplan, and the ongoing soil removal work there is part of the District’s broader effort to remove fire-related contaminant-impacted soil and restore safe campus use. The District is doing everything it can under DTSC oversight to assure that the students can return this coming school year to a healthy and safe campus. 

The fire-related contaminant impacted soil is in the roots of one tree the City has deemed protected and cannot be injured in any manner. PUSD is attempting to identify solutions that will allow contaminated soil removal from this tree within time to allow a full opening of the campus. Should the tree need to be removed because it is the only method to get the contaminated soil out,  PUSD will follow its protocol that uses qualified professionals, including arborists and wildlife biologists, to evaluate applicable tree criteria and nesting bird activity. This will be done to make sure there are no nesting migratory birds. The District remains committed to preserving as many native and mature trees as can safely remain while completing the soil removal necessary to protect students and staff.

The District has engaged wildlife biologists who conduct observations of trees within contaminated soil areas to ensure that no migratory birds are nesting in those trees.

Observations are conducted within 72 hours before tree removal to ensure migratory nesting birds are not affected. If active nesting is identified, the District will follow applicable requirements before work proceeds. The arborists, tree removal contractor, and wildlife biologist will observe trees for nesting activity while working on the contaminated soil removal project.

All work is being conducted with safety protocols in place, including secured work areas, dust control, particulate monitoring, and appropriate procedures for removal and transport of impacted soil.

The District’s environmental consultant is on site during soil removal to conduct testing and monitoring. Work areas are restricted for safety, and unauthorized access to active remediation zones is not allowed.

Contaminated soil will be removed and replaced with clean soil that is tested and then approved by the DTSC. PUSD is also committed to restoring affected campus landscapes, including planting replacement trees at a minimum 1-to-1-ratio.

The District’s goal is not simply to remove soil. The goal is to return students, staff, families, and community members to safe, healthy, welcoming outdoor spaces where students can learn, play, gather, and thrive.

Yes. For every tree removed, PUSD is committed to replanting and restoring the shade, beauty, and gathering spaces our school communities depend on.

The District is working with qualified professionals to ensure restoration is thoughtful, appropriate for the campus environment, and consistent with applicable safety, building, fire, and landscape requirements. Replacement trees will generally range from 24-inch box to 48-inch box trees, depending on species availability, campus conditions, irrigation, safety requirements, and long-term maintenance needs.

Restoration will be guided by the PUSD 2026 Landscape and Exterior Space Guidelines and Standard Plant and Tree Palette, which emphasize appropriate shade trees, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant planting, similar watering needs, and campus-specific spacing and clearance requirements.

PUSD is exploring whether lumber from some removed trees can be safely preserved or repurposed, where feasible and appropriate. The District is consulting with qualified vendors and will share more information if a safe and practical reuse option is available.

PUSD has evaluated soil removal approaches site by site and tree by tree. In some locations, preserving trees may be possible using air knife or air spade technology. The District is currently evaluating this option in consultation with a certified arborist and environmental professionals. 

In other locations, alternatives to removal may not allow the District to fully remove the impacted soil safely, effectively, or within the limited timeframe before students return. Other methods, such as bioremediation (biochar, compost, zeolite, etc.), may help manage soil conditions but do not remove the contaminants from the soil. These alternatives may also require long-term controls, monitoring, restrictions, and maintenance that are not appropriate for active school campuses.

Where no feasible alternative allows contaminated soil to be removed safely and on time, tree removal may be necessary.

PUSD has communicated through multiple channels about the soil removal and restoration work. The District created a dedicated Restoring Our Schools webpage with maps, FAQs, and site-specific timelines, held a media briefing, and has sent direct messages to the school community and community partners as this important work has progressed. 

DTSC has also engaged directly with the community, including holding a town hall meeting on the project. Video of DTSC April 16, 2026 Public Meeting Draft Removal Action Workplan

For more information, please visit: pusd.us/restoringourschools.

PUSD will continue sharing updates as this work progresses. Resources, site-specific information, timelines, and updates are available at:

PUSD Eaton Fire Soil Removal & Restoration pusd.us/restoringourschools 

DTSC
Information about DTSC’s Schools Cleanup Program is available at:
https://dtsc.ca.gov/evaluating-cleaning-up-school-sites/ 

DTSC reports can also be found through EnviroStor by searching the school name.
https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/  (search school name).

Other Resources
DTSC Arsenic in Soil: What You Need to Know
DTSC Lead in Soil Fact Sheet