By Jorge Casuso

March 10, 2025 -- Santa Monica City officials have been working behind the scenes and at local beaches to prevent damage from pollution and debris triggered by the recent Palisades Fire.

Officials have been monitoring ocean water quality testing by the Los Angeles County Department of Pubic Health, as well testing conducted by the County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH).

Public Health's latest Ocean Water Advisory "due to fire impacts" remains in effect until further notice from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach.

Meanwhile, DBH has been working with the County's Public Works and the Regional Water Quality Control Board "to test the dark, ashy sediment on the beaches for hazardous materials and other contaminants," City officials said.

"BH crews are also responsible for removing fire debris from the public beaches under county jurisdiction," which includes Santa Monica Beach, officials said.

Air quality for the Santa Monica area remains largely in the "good" range, according to the latest monitoring efforts by the South Coastal Air Quality Management District.

The City has taken a number of actions "in response to post-wildfire beach conditions and water quality concerns," officials said.

City crews have "handpicked and mechanically removed thousands of pounds of fire-related debris" from the Santa Monica’s beaches after storm events in operations that are ongoing, officials said.

The City also has "built sand berms around impacted storm drains to contain sediment and allow time for Santa Monica leadership to confer with regional partners on testing and best practices."

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) has determined that "any wildfire debris in Santa Monica’s storm drains at Montana Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard has washed up from the ocean, not flowed down from the wildfire zones."

In addition, City officials have "urged testing of local storm drains to ensure the most impacted area of city beaches was included in regional evaluations."

The City also has requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implement a hazardous debris staging area in a Santa Monica beach parking lot, but the request was denied.

The EPA is expected to decommission the staging areas at the Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot and at Topanga Canyon Boulevard after completing its Phase 1 hazardous materials cleanup process.

"Completion of this work ensures that unsecured hazardous materials have been removed from the burn zones and are being safely disposed of," City officials said.

"This greatly reduces the potential for hazardous material run-off into the Santa Monica Bay during rain events."

For more information, visit the City’s Palisades Fire website.