Expert warns of eerie similarity to Palisades fire aftermath and devastating 9/11 sickness

A prominent advocate for 9/11 victims is cautioning that last year’s devastating Palisades fire could lead to deadly respiratory illnesses for thousands — in a crisis as big as the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.Michael Barasch, an attorney who represents thousands of 9/11 first responders and survivors, blasted California officials for not doing nearly enough to warn residents of the dangers of breathing in fumes from the raging, deadly blaze last year.“We know how dangerous the LA wildfires were, and not once did they tell the citizens, wear respiratory protection, get out of Dodge,” he told The Post in an interview Wednesday.“Don’t let your kids be exposed to these toxins.

And you know what? I think our government owes the citizens of Los Angeles, of California, the same rights that they’re giving the public safety officers.”Barasch used to represent James Zadroga, a New York City Police Department officer who died of lung disease at just 34-years-old from toxic dust associated with 9/11.His death pushed Congress to create a fund called the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which compensated 9/11 survivors and first responders.Zadroga did not don the necessary respiratory protection to protect himself, which eventually led to his demise from the toxic fumes he breathed in without a filter.

Barasch is concerned many Palisades survivors, uninformed of the risks of breathing in the air, will develop terminal illnesses in time because officials didn’t push the issue enough.The Palisades fire devastated the community there and caused billions in damages.Los Angeles residents suffered the loss of nearly 13,000 homes in the area.

Rebuilding in the charred area is still underway.Barasch, who is a 9/11 cancer survivor himself, said he expects the survivors of the fire to unfortunately experience similar respiratory illnesses as the 2001 tragedy.He blamed California leaders, like Gov.

Gavin Newsom and Lo...