Remediating Environmental Justice: How Black Girls, Green Futures is Restoring Land and Community After the California Wildfires
More than a month has passed since the devastating wildfires in Southern California. While the news cycle may have moved on, the fires’ impact on the region—and its residents—is far from over. Beyond the immediate destruction, these fires have left lasting consequences, from economic hardship and displacement to serious mental and physical health concerns. Some of these health effects run deep—both figuratively and quite literally—embedded in California’s very soil.
The Lasting Impact of Wildfires on Soil and Ecosystems
Wildfires significantly alter soil composition, leaving behind a toxic mix of heavy metals, particulate matter, and harmful chemicals. The intense heat of the flames not only burns vegetation but also changes the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. As ash and pollutants settle, they are carried by wind and water, further contaminating air and waterways, threatening wildlife, and impacting human health.
The recent LA fires were especially hazardous due to the large proportion of urban areas burned. Unlike wildfires in forested regions, urban wildfires release an even more dangerous mixture of toxins as buildings, vehicles, and manufactured materials burn. These include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, and heavy metals such as lead, which amplify the harmful effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—compounds already produced by wildfires. Intense heat can also transform naturally occurring elements in the soil into hazardous forms of metal that can persist long after the flames are extinguished.
Additionally, fire-damaged soil becomes less permeable, increasing surface runoff and carrying contaminated soil and ash into rivers, oceans, and water supplies—posing serious risks to both ecosystems and nearby communities.
The Health Risks of Contaminated Soil
The toxic substances left behind in the soil pose a serious risk to human health. While water contamination is a well-documented concern, inhalation of pollutants—especially during recovery and rebuilding efforts—is often the primary route of exposure. As contaminated soil is disturbed, toxic particles become airborne and can be inhaled, increasing the risk of cancer, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological impacts like headaches and cognitive issues.
These risks are disproportionately felt in historically marginalized Black and Brown communities. For example, in South Los Angeles, decades of discriminatory policies and environmental racism have forced Black and Brown families to live alongside toxic polluting facilities, oil drilling sites, and major highways—leading to elevated rates of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Fire recovery efforts often deepen these inequities. In the Eaton fire zone, for instance, nearly half of Black-owned or rented homes were destroyed or severely damaged—compared to 37% of non-black households—despite Black residents making up just 18% of Altadena’s population. The lasting effects of racism and redlining, which pushed Black families into "less desirable" areas like West Altadena after World War II, continue to shape disparities in health, risk, and recovery of Black families today.
Children face heightened health risks from soil contamination. As they play in parks and outdoor spaces, they are more likely to inhale or ingest toxic particles through hand-to-mouth activities. Their smaller body size and higher breathing rates make them even more vulnerable to lead exposure which is linked to severe developmental, cognitive, and behavioral issues.
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
Given the long-term and inequitable impacts of wildfires on environmental and public health, recovery must take a multidimensional, intersectional approach. True recovery goes beyond rebuilding homes—it requires addressing the environmental and health consequences, education to raise awareness of post-fire health risks, and empowering disproportionately impacted communities to become environmental advocates.
Black Girls, Green Futures: A Model for Environmental Healing
This is where Black Girls, Green Futures (BGGF) comes in. A new initiative launched this month by Women’s Earth Alliance in partnership with Environmental Charter Schools and Seeds of Carver, BGGF works across multiple dimensions of post-fire recovery and addresses urgent environmental health concerns to restore communities.
Through this program, 25 young leaders are learning about bioremediation—a nature-based solution that uses biological processes to detoxify soil. BGGF will focus on phytoremediation, a method that harnesses hyperaccumulator plants to absorb and extract heavy metals and pollutants, accelerating soil recovery.
Alongside our partners, we will launch a summer apprenticeship program, where youth leaders will apply these bioremediation techniques in public green spaces affected by wildfires and environmental racism—such as Altadena Parks and Leimert Park Village Peoples Plaza. By restoring soil health, these young leaders will be directly contributing to their communities’ long-term environmental and public health resilience.
Alongside our partners, we will launch a summer apprenticeship program, where youth leaders will apply these bioremediation techniques in public green spaces affected by wildfires and environmental racism—such as Altadena Parks and Leimert Park Village Peoples Plaza. By restoring soil health, these young leaders will be directly contributing to their communities’ long-term environmental and public health resilience.
Participants will also receive advocacy training to influence policy solutions and leadership seed grants to launch their own community initiatives—ensuring that this work continues to flourish for years to come.
The Soil We Upturn
At this moment, WEA and our broader community have the opportunity—not just to remember the Southern California fires, but to champion an approach to recovery that addresses environmental injustices at their root.
The soil we upturn through BGGF is about more than land—it is about shifting power, investing in young leaders, and ensuring that environmental healing is both restorative and just. By fostering future leaders in environmental justice and STEAM fields, BGGF is equipping a new generation to drive meaningful change and build the resilience their communities need to thrive.
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