CENTER FOR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (CPR)ā
āSafe Cleanup of Ashā
Protect your family from wildfire impacts, even if your home was not burned or damaged by a wildfire.
āāIf your property was burned, special precautions are required for cleanup. Visit
CalRecycle's Wildfire Cleanup Guide for Homeownersā for detailed information about safe cleanup procedures.
Caution!
Ash from burned structures contains toxic metals and chemicals that can harm your health. Ash can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat, make it hard to breathe, and cause other health problems. It is especially hazardous to older adults, children, pregnant women and people with heart and lung disease, including asthma. ā
Keep Ash Away
- Avoid activities that stir up ash.
- If ash gets on your skin, in your eyes, or in your mouth, wash it off as soon as you can.
- Keep children away from ash and clean toys before they play with them.
- Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden thoroughly before eating them.
- Keep pets away from ash. Shampoo pets if they get ash on them.
Keep Your Indoor Environment Clean
- Clean indoor surfaces with a damp cloth.
- Use a HEPA filter vacuum and wet mop. Do not dry sweep with a broom.
- Use a portable HEPA filter air cleaner. Place it where people spend the most time.
- To avoid tracking ash indoors, remove shoes before entering your home and place āsticky mats" in your entryways.
Keep Safe While Working Outside
- Wear a tight-fitting respirator that is rated N95 or P100 to protect yourself from breathing in ash. Adults should choose a respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). ā
- Wear gloves, long sleeved shirts, long pants and shoes to avoid skin contact with ash and other debris. Wear goggles and a head covering when in contact with ash.
- Do not use leaf blowers or do any activities that will put ash into the air.
- Double bag debris and ash in plastic bags or other containers. Seal all bags or containers to prevent ash from being spread by wind or rain. Check with your County for disposal instructions.ā
Additional Resources
- Reduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire -
English (PDF)
- Reduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire - Spanish (PDF)
- Reduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire - Hmong (PDF, MP4)
- Reduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire - Laotian (PDF)
- āReduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire - Vietnamese (PDF)
- Caution: Fire Ash in Home Gardens - English (PDF)
- āCaution: Fire Ash in Home Gardens -
Spanishā (PDF) ā
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Page Last Updated : January 17, 2025