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When a massive wildfire tore through the Santa Cruz mountains last year, it destroyed close to 1,500 structures. When a structure is destroyed by fire, toxic materials can leak into the environment. Cleaning up these spills often involves scraping the earth and dumping it somewhere else. But a local group is trying a different approach. They’re experimenting with fungi, which they say has an incredible ability to remove and even heal toxic burn scars.
Maya Elson stands on a property perched on a steep slope overlooking a creek deep in the Santa Cruz mountains. It’s hard to imagine but someone’s home used to stand here.