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The fire
danger seems to be past for now, but people can still put themselves at risk when walking in burned areas
or inspecting their property in the fire zones.
HIDDEN HAZARDS
--Underfoot and Overhead
Burned-out
stumps can leave deep holes in the ground that can cause sprained or broken ankles and injured knees.
Roots
sometimes burn away leaving holes just 2 to 3 inches
below the
surface and hidden beneath ash. Ground can collapse under foot. The soft layer of ashes also hides things
to trip over.
In areas that
had deep drifts of leaf litter and pine needle mulch, smoldering "hot spots" can still be hiding.
Partially
burned, standing or leaning tree snags remain throughout affected areas. Trees may be unstable or have
burned bases. They can fall with a sudden gust of wind.
Tops of
partially burned trees, can be stuck in the branches of adjacent trees. Snags are very dangerous when they
come crashing down. Landowners should contact professional tree trimmers to take care of these unstable
trees.
ASH CAN BE
HARMFUL
The ash
deposited by forest fires is relatively nontoxic, similar to fireplace residue, but any ash contains small
amounts of cancer-causing chemicals.
Fire ash may
be irritating to the skin, nose and throat. Breathing airborne ash might trigger asthmatic attacks in
people who already have asthma, and irritate others who have respiratory problems.
• Children
should not play in the ash. Wash ash off toys before children touch them.
• Clean ash
off house pets.
• When working
in burned areas, wear gloves, long sleeved shirts, and long pants.
• Avoid skin
contact. If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off as soon as you can.
• If you have
a vegetable garden or fruit trees, wash fruit or vegetables well before eating.
• Avoid
stirring up ash . Do not use leaf blowers.
• Most vacuum
cleaners do not filter small particles, they tend to
blow particles
out into the air where they can be breathed. HEPA filter vacuums could be used, if available.
• Well fitting
dust masks may give some protection if you need to do cleanup. A mask rated N-95 or P-100 will be more
effective than more simple dust or surgical masks. A dust mask can reduce (but not completely eliminate)
the amount of particles inhaled.
• Persons with
heart or lung disease should consult their doctor before using a mask during post-fire cleanup.
• Gentle
sweeping of indoor and outdoor hard surfaces, followed by wet mopping is recommended in most cases. A damp
cloth or wet mop may be all that is needed on lightly dusted areas.
• If ash is
wet down, use as little water as possible.
MISCELLANEOUS
HAZARDS
Leave your ATV
in the shed for awhile. Traversing burned terrain kicks up a lot of ashes. Also the ashy surface can hide
hazards.
One danger you
might not recognize is Poison Oak. This fire-retardant plant can still get to you, even without its
"leaves of three". You might not recognize it after the fire has gone over.
Thankfully the
flames are out. We hope not to see them again this summer, but the burned areas bring other dangers. Wild
animals have been displaced and habitats destroyed. People may see bears or mountain lions in areas where
they are not often seen.
Loss of
vegetation will result in washouts, rockslides, mud flows and possible flooding. Ash from a wildfire often
keeps water from percolating into the soil. The runoff and erosion after a wildfire can be a threat to
water supplies, recreation and fishing.
The fire is
over for now, but dangers remain. Stay safe.
Rochelle Frank |
