Wildfire Debris Washing Up On Los Angeles Beaches Causes Alarm
Environmentalists are raising concerns about wildfire debris that's washed up on Los Angeles beaches, saying they're skeptical of the county's assurances that the shoreline is safe for people.
'This is an unprecedented event, and we must wait for the results of additional testing before declaring our beaches safe,' environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay warned residents Wednesday, telling them to stay off the sand.
The message comes a week after the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) said the debris ― charred matter from destroyed homes and businesses that washed into the oceans during January's massive fires ― is 'not hazardous to beachgoers or the environment' but that beachgoers should take steps to avoid large pieces of debris, as it 'may be unstable, have sharp edges or contain nails.'
Those precautions should be stricter, Heal the Bay urged, saying it's learned that the county's determination 'is likely based on only two debris samples'
'These samples were collected to determine the disposal method required to remove the debris, not to determine if it is safe for people to be on the sand. It is alarming that DPH would make this proclamation based on only two data points,' the group said.
DBH declined to comment when asked for its thoughts on Heal the Bay's concerns. The department said last week that it would be conducting more testing this week.
January's dozen-plus fires in LA were some of the most destructive in state history. The vast majority of the damage was caused by the two biggest ones: the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades. The blazes killed at least 29 people and destroyed 18,000 homes and other structures, potentially unleashing heavy metals and other harmful compounds into the environment.
While the county has been removing large pieces of debris, it's not touching the 'dark, silty sediment' ― the matter that Heal the Bay says could be dangerous — saying 'removing it could harm the ecosystem by disturbing rocks, sand layers, and marine habitats. It could also erode the shoreline, potentially causing long-term environmental damage. Instead, natural tides and weather will gradually clear it away.'
LA Mayor Ousts Fire Chief Over Response To Destructive Wildfire
Trump's Mass Layoffs Raise Risk Of Wildfires In West, Warn Fired Workers
Man Agrees To Plead Guilty For Flying Drone That Damaged Firefighting Aircraft In LA Wildfire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Army parade and 'No Kings' protests face rainy weekend forecast
Army parade and 'No Kings' protests face rainy weekend forecast Show Caption Hide Caption Armored tanks arrive in DC for Trump's military birthday parade As Washington, D.C. prepares for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, armored tanks have begun to arrive ahead of Saturday's celebration. Forecasters say rain will be a risk across much of the country on Saturday, a forecast that could affect protests, a military parade and a high-profile mass in Chicago. A massive military parade is set for Washington D.C. while "No Kings" protests are planned for the weekend around the nation. Meanwhile, the huge outdoor mass in Chicago will feature a video address by the first American pope in his hometown. Rain and bad weather could disrupt all of those events. Here's what we know about this weekend's weather forecast: Rain in forecast for Washington DC Army parade? A massive military parade in Washington D.C. is being held Saturday, June 14 to honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. As many as 200,000 people are anticipated to attend the event, which also falls on the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump, a huge fan of parades. A festival will begin on the National Mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to end at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks show will begin at 9:45 p.m. As many as 6,600 soldiers, seven bands and 150 vehicles including tanks, will roll down the parade route, the U.S. Army said. The celebration will also include several aerial performances from aircraft such as, the UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache and the CH-47 Chinook. It might be a damp event. According to the National Weather Service, the day will be mostly cloudy with a high of near 88 degrees. Showers are likely after 2 p.m. with a chance of precipitation of 60%. For the fireworks, showers and possibly a thunderstorm are likely between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Some 'No Kings' protests could face bad weather Protests are planned in hundreds of communities across the country on Saturday, June "No Kings Day," the rallies are being held to oppose what organizers see as Trump's power grab and focus on participants' patriotism and support for the U.S. Constitution. American flags are expected to be front and center. Temperatures across the country will range from the 70s in the Pacific Northwest and northern California to the 80s and 90s in the Midwest and Southeast and the 70s in New York and New England, according to National Weather Service predictions. Sporadic rain is predicated mostly for the Southeast and Northeast. Rain possible as new pope celebrated in Chicago Pope Leo XIV's hometown of Chicago is readying itself to celebrate the election of one of its own as leader of the Catholic Church on Saturday with an outdoor program and mass on Saturday, June 14. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the sold-out event. According to the Archdiocese of Chicago's website, the event will be held on June 14 at Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox. Pope Leo will not be there himself, but a special video message will be shown. The gates to the ballpark open at 2:30 p.m. and the mass takes place at 4 p.m. Umbrellas and jackets might be required. The National Weather Service predicts a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The day will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 67 degrees. Rain and thunderstorms possible in PA and NY Pennsylvania is in for some heavy weather over the weekend, with heavy rains, showers and possible thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. In New York City, where a large No Kings protest is planned from 2 p.m to 4 p.m., showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. are forecast, with a 70% chance of precipitation. Flooding in forecast for Texas Parts of Texas and Oklahoma are anticipated to get "heavy to excessive" rainfall into Friday, according to the National Weather Service. There is a high likelihood of rainfall totals as high as 4 inches through Friday, with some areas seeing possibly as much rain as 6 inches, the NWS said. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are possible across much of the southern Plains, with a particular focus across central and eastern Texas, the ArkLaTex region and western Louisiana.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Officials brace for hurricane season ahead of 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina — here's how they're preparing
City leaders in New Orleans are prepared for the 2025 hurricane season, which has officially begun. They said they have learned their lessons from Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, as well as other extreme storms, and have new and improved disaster preparedness measures in place. As Axios New Orleans reported, New Orleans officials are ready to promptly open shelters and cooling centers for residents to handle extreme summer heat. These efforts can help people avoid suffering from heat-related conditions following power outages and blackouts that can take out residential air conditioning systems. New Orleans now has solar-powered "community lighthouses" at churches and community centers to address fragile grid issues. Meanwhile, the city has strengthened levees and the power grid while improving storm forecasting and communication with and among residents. However, officials still emphasized the need for individuals and families to take disaster preparedness into their own hands and build their own resilience when strong storms hit. Human-induced climate change intensifies and escalates extreme weather events like hurricanes. Storms are becoming more powerful than ever before, posing increased risks to New Orleans and other vulnerable coastal communities. It is encouraging to hear that New Orleans has taken additional precautionary measures to prepare for storms. However, there are also concerns and uncertainties about the future of the national FEMA disaster response under the Trump administration. Although the National Hurricane Center noted in its first daily tropical outlook of the season on May 15 that all was quiet, as Axios shared, the most active hurricane period in the Gulf is typically in August and September. City disaster preparedness actions are undoubtedly helpful, but they might not be enough to keep you and your family safe during an extreme storm. Creating your own personal emergency plan and discussing it with your family members, friends, and neighbors is critical. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. One thing you can do in advance to boost your storm resilience is to install solar panels. If you generate your own energy rather than relying on the grid, you can keep your appliances and cooling system on to remain safe and healthy during a blackout. EnergySage makes saving up to $10,000 on solar installation costs easy with its free tool to compare quotes from vetted local installers. Due to the upfront costs required, purchasing solar panels isn't a feasible option for everyone. To reduce your initial investment, consider leasing solar panels. If panels are connected to the grid without a battery system or grid disconnection switch, you will generally lose power if the grid goes out, but they still offer plenty of benefits. Beyond being better for the environment than relying on dirty fuels, they can help protect homeowners from fluctuating electricity prices. Palmetto's LightReach solar panel leasing program helps homeowners install panels for no money down while locking in low energy rates. Meanwhile, weatherizing your home makes it more capable of withstanding dangerous conditions. Hurricane prep, such as packing a go-bag, stocking up on non-perishable food, and keeping a supply of fresh water, is also important, while evacuation orders must be followed. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Month of May was world's second-warmest on record: EU scientists
This year, the world experienced its second-warmest month of May since records began, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has said in a monthly bulletin. Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, C3S said. The latest data comes amid mixed momentum on climate action globally, with China and the EU reducing emissions as the Trump administration and technology companies increase their use of fossil fuels. 'Temperatures were most above average over western Antarctica, a large area of the Middle East and western Asia, northeastern Russia, and northern Canada,' the C3S bulletin added. At 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, May was also the first month globally not to go over 1.5C (2.7F) in warming in 22 months. 'May 2025 breaks an unprecedentedly long sequence of months over 1.5C above pre-industrial,' said Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S. 'Whilst this may offer a brief respite for the planet, we do expect the 1.5C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system,' Buontempo said. The increased temperatures were particularly felt in Pakistan's Jacobabad city in Sindh province, where residents grappled with extreme temperatures in the high 40s, which sometimes reached 50C (122 F). The soaring temperatures followed another heatwave last June that killed more than 560 people in southern Pakistan. 'While a heatwave that is around 20C might not sound like an extreme event from the experience of most people around the world, it is a really big deal for this part of the world,' Friederike Otto, associate professor in climate science at Imperial College London, told reporters. 'It affects the whole world massively,' Otto added. 'Without climate change, this would have been impossible.' In a separate report released on Wednesday, the World Weather Attribution (WWA) research collaboration said Greenland's ice sheet melted 17 times faster than the past average during a May heatwave that also hit latest data comes amid mixed progress on climate change action. United States President Donald Trump has promised to 'drill, baby, drill' during his presidency, even as his country faces increasingly severe weather events, like the fires that tore through California's capital, Los Angeles, late last year. Emissions from technology companies are also surging, as expanding use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres drives up global electricity demand, according to a recent report from the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU). New analysis by the climate reporting site Carbon Brief found that China's emissions may have peaked, as the country increased electricity supplies from new wind, solar, and nuclear capacity and reduced its reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. 'China's emissions were down 1.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 and by 1 percent in the latest 12 months,' Carbon Brief reported last month. 'If this pattern is sustained, then it would herald a peak and sustained decline in China's power-sector emissions,' it added. The EU also announced last week that its 27 member states are well on track to meet their goal of a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 'Emissions are down 37 percent since 1990, while the economy has grown nearly 70 percent — proving climate action and growth go hand in hand,' said Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's commissioner for climate, net zero and clean growth. In the Caribbean, leaders met recently to plan ways to restore the region's mangrove forests, which help prevent climate change and protect from rising sea levels and intensifying storms.
