New County Dashboard Tracks Post-Wildfire Environmental Health Impacts for Inglewood Residents

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an interactive online dashboard that gives Inglewood residents and others across the county access to crucial environmental and health monitoring data following January’s devastating wildfires.

The new digital tool, part of the Los Angeles County Post-Fire Air, Soil and Water Assessment Plan, provides a visual overview of monitoring locations throughout the region, including areas that may affect Inglewood neighborhoods impacted by smoke and ash from the fires.

For Inglewood families concerned about lingering health effects from the wildfires, the dashboard tracks four key environmental metrics:

• Air Quality: Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality to detect pollutants that may affect respiratory health, particularly important for vulnerable communities with higher rates of asthma and respiratory conditions

• Surface Contamination: Testing for contaminants on indoor surfaces, soil, coastal sand and wildfire debris to determine exposure risks that could affect residents

• Water Quality: Sampling of coastal waters, freshwater sources and pools to monitor for wildfire-related contaminations that might impact regional water systems

• Human Health Monitoring: Voluntary blood lead testing to determine potential exposure, particularly for children and other vulnerable individuals

“This dashboard is part of Los Angeles County’s commitment to transparency, public engagement and community well-being,” LACDPH officials said in Wednesday’s media release. “By making this information accessible, the department aims to empower residents with timely, science-based insights into potential environmental health impacts of the recent wildfires.”

The data collected will continue to inform long-term recovery efforts and guide health recommendations for Inglewood and surrounding communities. However, officials noted that the dashboard currently does not include data for all locations, such as paths from mobile monitoring units. This additional information will be added once available.

The launch of this resource follows Inglewood’s establishment of a Wildfire Recovery Fund earlier this year to support affected residents with housing and other needs, demonstrating ongoing efforts to address the fires’ lingering impacts on local communities.

Inglewood residents can access the dashboard through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website.