Post-Fire Cleanup Guidance

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This guidance is intended to help residents safely return to their homes after a fire, including wildfire. The hazards present in post-fire settings will be different in each setting, partly depending on what was burned in the area. Below is guidance about some of the most likely and dangerous hazards anticipated in and around residential buildings after a fire.

Returning Home After a Fire

  • Only return home when fire officials have reopened mandatory evacuation areas to residents. Follow guidance from response agencies about when it is safe to return home.
  • When you can return, be aware that sites damaged by fire and environmental contamination may be hazardous or life-threatening, due to the potential presence of asbestos, ash, unstable trees and structures, live power lines, damaged and unstable propane tanks, and household products that have combusted and are hazardous to breathe. Exercise extreme caution and carefully assess the range of possible hazards before attempting any cleanup.
  • Before beginning any cleanup, contact your insurance company to find out if there are requirements for reimbursement. Your insurance company may need to inspect the damage before cleanup begins. See insurance claims information from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (PDF).
  • Refer to your local health jurisdiction or emergency management department for information and local resources after a fire, like specialized cleaning companies. If a federal, state, local, or Tribal agency is not assisting with cleanup, consider hiring a professional remediation company to evaluate hazards before you enter the property.
  • Refer to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Wildfire Safety & Recovery Resources for information about hiring a professional.
  • To connect with certified firms and technicians, consider using the Locator Tool from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Check the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries verification page to verify contractors and businesses before hiring.

Health Effects

Ash, debris, and smoke from any fire, including wildfire, are hazardous. Breathing in air or ash at burned sites and touching sooty surfaces or ash with bare skin can lead to immediate symptoms or increase your risk for later disease. If you start to feel dizzy, lightheaded, get a headache, feel nauseous, or notice impacts/changes in your breathing, go to an unimpacted and safe area, remove your respirator, and seek medical attention as needed.

Ash, debris, and smoke from burned buildings and structures are more toxic than from fires that only burn vegetation. Ash is the powdery, flaky residue left behind when vegetation, buildings, and other materials burn during a fire. It may look harmless or like dust, but ash can contain toxic substances and pose health risks, especially when inhaled or disturbed.

Ash from structural fires often contains or emits hazardous gases or chemicals like heavy metals, including arsenic and lead; asbestos; dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); and other harmful chemicals. These gases and chemicals primarily come from burning building materials, furnishings, and household products such as electronics and plastics.

Below are the main known health effects of exposure to ash. There may be other health effects from exposure to burned building materials, other debris, hazardous chemicals from the deposited smoke residue, and leftover fire suppressant.

  • Inhaling ash can irritate your nose and/or throat. Ash particles can also damage lung tissue and aggravate breathing.
    • Some people may be particularly sensitive, including children, as well as people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, or other lung diseases.
    • People with heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, or heart failure may also be impacted by ash exposure. It may also lead to heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest.
  • Touching ash can irritate your skin.
  • If your home contains asbestos, moving debris and cleaning may cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. Asbestos exposure can cause both non-cancerous and cancerous effects.
    • If you are unsure if your home contains asbestos, reach out to a qualified contractor for asbestos testing prior to disturbing any debris after a fire. Homes built before 1980 are at higher risk for containing asbestos, but even new buildings can contain asbestos.
    • Learn more about the health effects of asbestos.
  • Ash can contain high levels of heavy metals, such as chromium, arsenic and lead, remain in the environment, and cause serious health problems, especially children and those who are pregnant.
  • Short-term exposure to hazardous chemicals, like PAHs and some VOCs, can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat.
    • If inhaled, these chemicals can cause dizziness, headaches, visual disorders, and memory impairment.
    • Lung or skin exposure can also increase your risk of cancer.
Post-Fire Cleanup

Cleanup Considerations

Precautions When Cleaning

Exercise extreme caution when assessing possible hazards before proceeding with cleanup. Keep infants, children, and pets away from ash and debris, particularly during cleanup. Given the wide range of possible hazards, we recommend everyone be especially cautious in any fire cleanup; sensitive groups should avoid cleaning as much as possible. This includes people who are at higher risk of health effects from smoke or ash exposure such as pregnant people, people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, and people over 65.

We recommend the following steps to protect yourself when cleaning:

  • Limit your time in the area. Hazardous chemicals and particles from ash are not safe to be around without adequate protection.
  • Wear a well-fitting respirator.
    • Particulate respirators such as P100s, N100s, or N95s are good options for protection from particles. These will not protect you from gases and vapors, and an N95 will not provide adequate protection from asbestos.
      • Choose a respirator that is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with 2 straps.
      • Follow Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recommendations for good fit (PDF).
      • If you suspect there are gases present, leave the area. After confirming gases in the area are not a fire hazard, use a respirator designed for both gases and particulates.
  • Wear disposable rubber gloves, shoes and booties, safety glasses or goggles to protect eyes, and a disposable coverall with a hood made of a material like Tyvek to protect your skin and clothing from exposure.

Employers must consider whether a respiratory program is needed. Learn more about respirators from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

Assess the Area

Several dangerous hazards are likely to be in and around your home after a fire. Before cleaning, exercise extreme caution and assess the area by following these steps:

Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Precautions

Ash and debris from structural fires can contaminate drinking water around your home. Consult with your water utility for information about your water and whether it is safe to use. Consider testing drinking water quality before consuming to ensure it is safe.

  • If you have a private well, it should be assessed for damage and private well water should be tested prior to use to ensure no contamination is present. At a minimum, well water should be tested for coliform bacteria. Contact your local county health department for additional information about private wells.
  • For private well owners, if there was not a prolonged power outage and there is no damage to your well, pump house, or water delivery components, run all faucets in your home at once for 5 minutes. This can flush your home’s water system to remove chemicals that may be in the tap water.
  • For those who get water from a utility, follow guidance about drinking water safety from your local utility. If your local utility has not issued any health advisories, run all faucets in your home at once for 5 minutes. This can flush your home’s water system to remove chemicals that may be in the tap water.
  • If you are connected to an onsite wastewater treatment system, or septic system, it should be assessed for damage prior to use. See Guidance for Septic Systems Before, During, and After a Fire, National Environmental Health Association (PDF). Take extra care to assess septic tanks lids and do not step on them. If they appear damaged, block access to them immediately.
  • If you are responsible for operating a public water system, please contact DOH for water quality and monitoring concerns.

Post-Cleanup Contaminants

Some waste materials from post-fire cleanup may be regulated solid or dangerous waste, such as demolition debris from partially burned structures or fire-damaged containers of cleaners or other household hazardous chemicals. For questions about proper disposal of waste materials when cleaning up after a fire, please contact the Department of Ecology Solid Waste Management Program at 360-407-6900 or Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program at 360-407-6700.

Steps to Clean Outdoor Surfaces

  1. Assess the area completely before beginning cleanup, such as determining presence of asbestos and other potential hazards. Prioritize cleaning outdoor areas with higher traffic. See Assess the Area above.
  2. Use water to mist the ash and gently scoop the dampened ash into plastic trash bags. Tightly close the bag to prevent release of ash during transport for disposal.
  3. For hard surfaces, use a wet mop with mild detergent and water to remove remaining ash. Keep ash away from storm drains.
  4. For soft or porous surfaces, such as grass or gravel, cleaning may not be necessary if only a light layer of ash remains (i.e., surface is mostly visible), as the next rain will help wash it away. Until after the next rain, do not mow your lawn, use a leaf blower, or otherwise disturb the surface. If there is a heavy layer of ash (i.e., surface is mostly covered), or if the ash is predominantly from burned buildings, professional remediation may be needed.
    • Soil on your property may also be contaminated with heavy metals. Do not mow your lawn, use a leaf blower, or otherwise disturb the soil until it’s tested for heavy metals and other potential contaminants by a qualified professional, and until it has rained. This includes soil used for gardening, especially for growing food, as well as soil that children, pets, or livestock will touch. Soil testing is available through the Washington State Department of Ecology Dirt Alert program for eligible areas.
  5. Double bag all ash and debris, including disposable coveralls and gloves used for cleaning, in plastic trash bags. Seal all bags. Check with your local waste disposal site for disposal information.
  6. Wash off any ash that gets on your skin as quickly as possible with soap and clean water.
  7. Change your shoes and clothing before entering your home or a vehicle to avoid bringing additional ash inside.

See additional resources from Los Angeles County Public Health (PDF) and California Department of Public Health for more information.

How to Reduce Indoor Smoke and Ash Exposure

Ash can make its way indoors during and after fires. If there is substantial, visible deposition in the home (surfaces are mostly covered by ash), take additional precautions to protect yourself and consider hiring a professional contractor to clean indoors.

If your floors have a small amount of visible ash (floors/surfaces are mostly visible), take the following steps to reduce indoor exposure:

  1. Assess the area completely before beginning clean up and determine if asbestos is present (see Assess the Area).
  2. When cleaning indoors, wear shoes, booties, disposable gloves, coveralls, and a P100, N100, or N95 respirator for safety (see Precautions When Cleaning). An N95 respirator will not provide adequate protection against asbestos.
  3. Wipe all indoor surfaces (including walls) with a damp cloth with a mild detergent. This can help reduce indoor air concentrations of VOCs, which can cause harmful health effects.
  4. Clean all smoke and ash-affected soft materials, like small rugs, in a washing machine. Thoroughly vacuum furniture, drapes, and carpets using a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) type vacuum. Discard porous items (like upholstered furniture or stuffed animals) if they are heavily contaminated and cannot be cleaned easily.
  5. For hard surface flooring, mop floors with a mild detergent and water, then vacuum. Do not sweep with a broom.
  6. After all visible ash has been removed, use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter and a carbon filter on the highest setting. If you do not have an air cleaner, create and run a do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan filter (video). After a fire and cleanup, replace the filters. After cleaning, continue running your portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter and a carbon filter, as it can help remove VOCs and particles that linger in your home after a fire.
  7. Do not open windows until outdoor cleanup has finished and outdoor air quality has improved.
    • Keep windows closed on windy days. Ash from other areas may be transported to your area.
    • Open windows when outdoor air quality is good and there is no wind.
    • Low-cost air sensors may not measure ash in the air. If a sensor near you shows good air quality but you see ash in the air, keep windows closed.
  8. Check your HVAC system prior to turning it on. Make sure the fan is working, check for visible dust, and clean the area around intakes. Replace filters monthly until the smoke smell in your home is gone.
  9. Repeat cleaning if ash continues to be a concern in the area.

Food Safety After a Fire

Use the following guidance to decide whether to keep or discard food:

  • If the power is or was out, check refrigerators and freezers for spoiled food. Refer to DOH guidance on power outages for additional information.
  • Discard food that has been exposed to flames, heat, heavy smoke, or chemicals.
  • For areas heavily covered by ash, dispose of any home-grown fruits or vegetables from trees or gardens.
  • For areas with a light layer of windblown ash, thoroughly wash with water and peel or remove outer layers of home-grown fruits and vegetables. See Los Angeles County's produce guidance (PDF) for more information.

Additional Considerations

  • Use a portable air cleaner with a carbon filter to address smoke odors and indoor air quality concerns.
  • Pay attention to your personal and loved ones’ mental health. Many people experience psychological distress following a fire. See resources and support below.
  • Keep pets away from ash and debris. Shampoo pets with fur or hair if they have ash on them.
  • Prior to performing demolition or new construction of residential buildings, check with the designated building and planning authority, as there may be permitting requirements.

Recommendations for Schools, Child Care Facilities, Long-Term Care Centers, and Other Facilities

In addition to following the guidance above and any policies or requirements that apply to your type of facility, consider the following recommendations. This is not a comprehensive list of recommendations, but is intended to help facilities begin to assess risks.

  • Do not let children play in or with items covered with ash. Young children have hand-to-mouth behaviors and may eat contaminated dirt or sand while playing outside.
    • Remove and replace sandboxes, as there is no reliable way to remove ash.
    • Soil and toys from childcare facilities can be tested for heavy metals for free as a part of the Washington Choose Safe Places program.
  • Clean toys, books, and stuffed toys. If they cannot be thoroughly cleaned, dispose of the item.
  • For HVAC and additional smoke remediation, consider hiring professionals to restore the facility to the standard for fires other than wildfires.

Additional Resources

General Wildfire Information

General Post-Fire Information

Local Post-Fire Resources

Smoke Odor/Residue Removal Resources

Drinking Water, Private Wells, and Septic Systems

Mental and Emotional Health