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 “sticky 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). ​
• 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.​
  

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)
• ​Reduce Exposure to Ash When Returning Home After a Fire - Vietnamese (PDF)
• Caution: Fire Ash in Home Gardens - English (PDF)
• ​Caution: Fire Ash in Home Gardens - Spanish​ (PDF) ​
  
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