LOS ANGELES — Ashley Olsen, founder of the Coastal Alliance and a biodiversity and conservation biologist, has been at the forefront of efforts to push for stronger cleanup measures.

What You Need To Know

  • Environmental advocates say fire debris poses a risk and demand more action

  • County testing found no asbestos or high levels of heavy metals

  • Officials warn against disturbing sediment, citing ecosystem concern

  • Public urged to avoid debris and ocean water after rainfall due to contamination risks

She recently helped organize the “March to Save the Sea,” where protesters called for a more aggressive response to fire debris on local beaches.

“Just a great deal of soot and ash that has been on our beaches since the first rain,” Olsen said. “And we believe that people need to be cautious about making contact with the debris and more focused and concerned about the cleanup—and the pollution going into our waters.”

Olsen has conducted her own testing, sending sand samples before and after the fire to a lab to check for heavy metals, plastics, asbestos, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants. She is still awaiting the results, but remains concerned about the potential risks.

Due to a backlog in processing, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works only recently received test results from sediment samples collected on Feb. 2.

Nikole Meridian, a public information specialist with the county’s Department of Beaches and Harbors, said the findings showed no significant contamination.

“The test results found no asbestos, heavy metals that were likely representative of background metals — basically, what would have been there anyway,” Meridian said. “Everything else was either not detected or detected in very limited or trace amounts.”

Based on these findings, county officials say they will not remove the dark, charred sediment, explaining that scraping it away could damage ecosystems. However, they are continuing to remove larger debris as it washes ashore.

Meridian urged beachgoers to check for advisories before visiting the beach and to avoid any fire debris they may come across.

Despite the county’s assurances, Olsen says she and other advocates will continue pushing for a more extensive cleanup.

“I have an 11-month-old son. We live by the beach, and we use the beaches as our backyard,” she said. “It’s really important to me and my family and my community that the beach is safe.”

As county officials and environmental groups navigate the aftermath of the fire, both sides remain focused on restoring the health of Los Angeles’ beaches.

If you spot large debris on the beach, report it to the nearest lifeguard or call the Department of Beaches and Harbors at (424) 526-7777.