As the Environmental Protection Agency removes hazardous materials from fire-devastated Malibu coastal properties afflicted by the assault of the Palisades Fire, two Malibu-based marine scientists are advocating that remediation specialists, various government agencies tasked with assisting in removing debris, and, perhaps most importantly, Malibuites and all Californians, all need to be proactive about addressing the damage the fire inflicted on the beaches as well as in the ocean and its ecosystems along Malibu’s coastline…

“What’s happening right now to our ocean with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire is something we who call Malibu home all need to care about,” said Barbara Gentile Crary, environmentalist, scientific diver, and owner of Malibu Divers at a Feb. 5 online presentation by scientists and concerned citizens. The event, entitled “Malibu’s Unique Marine Ecosystem: Impacts on Wildfires on Kelp Forests & Marine Life,” explored what scientists are doing to monitor and define toxic chemicals that have been detected in the ocean and to determine what can be done to help mitigate the harm. 

The seemingly endless and terrible tentacles of the fire include its deleterious effects on the ocean and its ecosystems, Gentile Crary said. 

“When wildfires burn through our hillsides, we often focus on the destruction above ground — homes lost, landscapes charred — but the damage doesn’t stop there. The rains that follow these fires carry an enormous amount of debris straight into our ocean,” she said. “Right now, everything from ash, toxic chemicals, plastics, and burned household materials is washing into our waters. This isn’t just unsightly; it’s dangerous…”

The damage done to the ocean is extensive and concerning, she stressed, sharing a report from San Diego that monitored Urban Ash, the term used for ash derived from urban fires such as the Palisades and Eaton fires, more than 100 miles away as the Palisades fire burned on land. That report can be found at youtu.be/7BcUfvy6y8E?feature=shared. 

“I urge everyone to pay attention, ask questions, and demand solutions!” Gentile Crary said. “This isn’t just about today — it’s about the future of our coastline, our economy, and the health of our ocean. Let’s work together to protect what makes Malibu so special.”