The disaster, which destroyed over 16,000 structures, highlighted a critical failure in the recovery process: while technical expertise existed, it was never translated into a clear protocol for testing, cleaning, and restoring fire-impacted land. A survey conducted after the 2025 fires revealed that less than half of affected households received any soil or water testing, leaving many to navigate hazardous conditions without reliable guidance.

Eric Bollens, CTO at LightBox and a Palisades native, saw this struggle firsthand. He partnered with Purdue professor Andrew Whelton to develop the Property Owner Guide for Rapidly Restoring Soil Safety after Fires. With $25,000 from LightBox and an equal contribution from local residents Mario and Chantal Spanicciati, the project provides the funding necessary to codify field research into a usable manual. The guide will cover everything from debris removal to specific sampling protocols, providing a defensible methodology for consultants who previously had to develop their own improvised approaches. By professionalizing the recovery process, the team hopes to replace guesswork with a standard that allows communities to rebuild with confidence.