Returning to property burned in a wildfire can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. For those in a wildland urban interface, the return home can be made all the more difficult by the toxic debris left in an urban wildfire’s wake. Here are the safety tips disaster relief volunteers want anyone cleaning up after a fire or assisting their community in the wake of the California wildfires to know.
Wait for Official Clearance
Do not attempt to return to your property until local authorities have declared it safe. Check with local fire departments or emergency management agencies for updates and instructions. In California, Los Angeles County has developed a mapping tool that allows residents to see whether their home has been inspected for damage, and how much damage it was damaged in the fires.
LA County has also begun allowing some residents of some communities evacuated for the Palisades and Eaton fires to return to inspect their properties. That includes places around Santa Monica, where peace officers and volunteers from organizations like Team Rubicon are greeting returning homeowners, dispensing access kits comprising Tyvek, gloves, hand sanitization, masks, and eye protection, and escorting some residents to their properties.
Never attempt to return to a community or home burned in a fire or begin cleaning up after a fire before receiving official clearance. Entering too soon can expose you to ongoing hazards such as hot spots, unstable structures, or toxic air quality.
Inspect for Structural Damage and Overhead Risks Before Entering Property
Disaster sites can be littered with debris, dangerous, and hard to navigate. Every survivor should be on high alert for downed power lines, partially fallen trees or limbs, gas leaks, broken glass, damaged electrical wiring created by the disaster, and more.
Those returning to inspect homes damaged by the California wildfires should visually inspect homes for structural damage before entering. Look for cracks or shifts in the foundation, sagging ceilings or walls, exposed wiring, and signs of a compromised roof. If you notice any severe damage, consult a structural engineer or building inspector before proceeding.
Document Damage for FEMA Claims and Insurance
Before starting the process of cleaning up after a fire or even searching a property, take extensive photographs or videos of damage both inside and outside of the home for insurance purposes. Create a detailed inventory of losses, and contact your insurance provider to initiate the claims process. Those affected by the California wildfires can and should also file a claim with FEMA.
Do Not Attempt to Clean Up or Remove Fire Debris
Wildfires in urban environments produce a wide spectrum of hazardous debris which should not be handled by homeowners and the untrained.
When Team Rubicon Canada helped residents of Jasper, CN, with post-fire cleanup and recovery work, they found home sites littered with building materials that included plastic sidings; appliances full of plastics and refrigerants; home chemicals like cleaners, paints, and stains; destroyed vehicles off-gassing fumes from melted rubber and more, and even ammunition.
To safely enter the post-fire urban landscape and help wildfire survivors with sifting, sorting, and even cleaning up after a fire, the organization requires its volunteers—or Greyshirts—to wear half-face respirators with P100 filters, a helmet, white Tyvek suits, steel-toe boots, three layers of gloves, and carry decontamination wipes for the skin. Had the homes they were working in contained airborne hazardous materials, like asbestos, Greyshirts would have been required to wear a full-face respirator and a yellow Tyvek suit.
Even with those protections, cleaning up after a fire and removing fire debris can be dangerous work. Until LA authorities have given the all-clear, homeowners should not try to clean up or remove debris on their own. Even then, it’s best to hire licensed contractors to handle these issues safely and effectively.
If You Must Sift, Sort, or Clean Up Fire Debris, Wear Protective Gear
“Post-fire recovery in an urban environment is very different from forest fires,” says Team Rubicon Wildfire Mitigation Project Manager Duane Poslusny. Where wildland wildfires carry the risks of hidden burning stump holes and unstable trees in the near term, and flash floods and mudslides in the long term, urban wildfires leave a toxic landscape behind.
“Urban firefighting has one of the highest cancer risks of any profession,” Poslusny says. “There are high levels of volatile organic chemicals, heavy metals, and a whole slew of toxic material.”
Previous studies on the toxicity of emissions from the combustion of building materials and vehicles have shown that urban fires may emit numerous toxic species. Included among them have been hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, isocyanates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans, and a range of toxic organic compounds, such as benzene toluene, xylenes, styrene, and formaldehyde, as well as metals like lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic.
“An ashed-out property is essentially a hazmat site,” says Jamie Robertson, Manager of Technical Programs at Team Rubicon, and a certified asbestos surveyor and manager who spent much of his early career conducting the survey and management of asbestos in Scotland. “Think about plastics, PFAS which is in everything, rubber, all sorts of toxic items.”
For those reasons, Robertson says the only way he would work on post-fire cleanup at his home would be if he was wearing full protection.
“If I was sorting and sifting, I’d be wearing full Tyvek,” says Robertson. “And if I was working for extended periods of time, I’d be wearing a half-mask respirator with HEPA filters.”
Protective Gear Checklist for Use in Fire Cleanup
Team Rubicon Canada developed a mandate for the protective gear Greyshirts were required to wear while sifting and sorting. It’s a PPE system anyone cleaning up after a fire or conducting recovery work for the California wildfires should adhere to:
- Fit-tested half-face respirator with P100 filters
- If volatile compounds are present then fit-tested full-face mask
- Safety helmet
- Tyvek suit: White if VOCs or airborne hazardous materials absent; Yellow if VOCs or airborne hazardous materials are present
- Rubber boots with steel toe, and steel shank
- Rubber work gloves
- Two pairs of surgical gloves: One pair worn under Tyvek, one pair worn over Tyvek and under rubber work gloves
- All seals on Tyvek around gloves, boots, etc. duct taped
- Decontamination wipes for skin: To be used when taking off PPE
Handle Ash and Debris Carefully When Cleaning Up After a Fire
Wildfire ash and debris can contain hazardous substances like heavy metals and chemicals. Even those cleaning up a home that was not destroyed in the LA fires, but which is in the post-fire area should use precautions:
- Use a HEPA filter vacuum or damp cloth to clean surfaces instead of sweeping, which stirs up particles.
- Double-bag ash and debris in plastic bags for disposal, following local hazardous waste guidelines.
- Avoid washing ash into storm drains or waterways.
Anyone working in a post-wildfire area should also limit time in areas with heavy ash or soot. Take frequent breaks to avoid overexertion, especially in hot conditions. Wash your hands and face thoroughly after handling debris, and avoid eating or drinking in affected areas.
Stay Updated on Air Quality
Wildfire smoke and ash can linger for weeks, impacting air quality. Monitor local air quality reports and use air purifiers indoors. Keep windows and doors closed to minimize exposure to outdoor pollutants.
By taking these precautions, you can protect yourself and your family from potential hazards while beginning the recovery process. Remember, safety always comes first. Stay informed, prepared, and patient as you work toward rebuilding your home and community.
Starting the Road to Recovery from the California Wildfires?
See FEMA’s guide and checklist for navigating federal assistance.
