A dark slick of sediment extends along the sand near Tower 18 at Will Rogers State Beach.
(L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors)
Testing for wildfire debris in L.A. beaches
Original story by Cato Hernández
After heavy rainfall in Los Angeles in February 2025 following the disastrous wildfires from the prior month, group such as Heal the Bay and L.A. County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors have been testing coastal areas for pollutants that can cause health concerns.
So, should beachgoers be concerned about the debris? The answer hasn’t been clear so far.
According to USC Environmental Studies professor Dave Ginsburg, one of the reasons why there is uncertainty about various advisories for water quality and beach locations is because there aren’t easy ways to test for wildfire contaminants at the beach.
“ What we don’t have a good set of standards for is looking for everything else that might be in the water, given this unprecedented event of wildfire and what could be making its way from the burn areas into the water,” Ginsburg said.
To help people make decisions to go to the beach, the LA County Department of Public Health website lists the latest beach advisories and Heal the Bay updates a Beach Report Card.