There are unspoken risks when returning home after a wildfire. Recovery depends on knowing how to clean safely and safeguard your health from harmful indoor pollutants and ash-laden air.
Air pollution and residual ash pose a less obvious but no less significant threat to Southern Californians returning to their homes after deadly wildfires. Experts caution that even intact homes can become infiltrated by smoke, ash, and hazardous chemicals, which can pose serious health hazards.
“Your home may appear safe, but indoor pollutants and poor air quality can make it dangerous,” warns Katherine Pruitt of the American Lung Association. For weeks or even months, smoke residues and ash particles can soak into surfaces and produce toxic compounds that aggravate cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions.
Given that Los Angeles already has a high pollution rating, wildfires just make the air quality worse, keeping it at “unhealthy” levels for days at a time. According to studies, indoor contaminants from burned buildings, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, can cause symptoms like headaches, watery eyes, and coughing.
Care must be used when cleaning up. Experts advise avoiding activities that release more particles, such as frying or lighting candles, wearing protective gear, and using vacuums with HEPA filters. To improve indoor air quality, utilize air purifiers and change HVAC filters on a regular basis.
Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing diseases are among the vulnerable categories that should refrain from cleaning up after themselves. Pets are also vulnerable; it’s crucial to wash their paws after handling ash.
Pruitt suggests that “knowing when to seek medical help and taking breaks in clean, fresh air can make a big difference.” For a safer recovery while communities recover, putting health first throughout cleanup operations is essential.
