Turning to nature for post-wildfire soil detox

After the January blazes, homeowners explore DIY ways to expel contaminants.

- By Lila Seidman

AN OYSTER mushroom block, left, is part of one DIY solution for soil remediation. At right, Leslie Carothers holds a filter sock she made.

Serina Diniega always wanted to plant an avocado tree at her Altadena home, but now she worries the creamy green fruit might pose a threat.

Her yard was scorched in the Eaton fire as her block went up in flames. The planetary scientist's house survived, but unseen contaminants could be lurking in the soil.

"What can I do to keep that tree healthy, hopefully be able to eat the fruit a number of years down the line without worrying about whether or not I'm poisoning my family?" she wondered. The internet was full of opinions, but science was scarce.

So when a DIY soil detoxification workshop came up at a local nursery, she jumped on it. Many others did too; roughly 40 people were wait-listed for the three-hour class led by SoilWise, a landscaping, education and consulting business. Once a niche subject, the firestorms of January have put a spotlight on soil health, as residents wonder if their yards are safe for their children to play or if their homegrown tomatoes are OK to eat.

Learning how plants, compost and other materials combat contamination can be a source of empowerment in the face of disasters that are beyond individual control, and proponents say the approach is more environmentally friendly than conventional alternatives. For some, the tools are also a backstop against inadequate government help.

The typical approach to dealing with contaminated dirt is stripping away the topsoil. As part of its postfire cleanup, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would scrape up to 6 inches from fire-destroyed homes.

But in many cases, large swaths of yards and gardens were left out.