Imagine coming home after a wildfire has passed. The air is still hazy with smoke. Everything is covered with ash, inside and out. You’re eager to start the cleanup, and so you arm yourself with a broom and good intentions.
“Just a couple quick sweeps and my porch will be clear,” you think to yourself, dragging the broom across the wooden boards, humming happily as you’re eager to get back to regular life again.
But life after a wildfire rarely goes as planned, does it? The ash, stubborn as a bad houseguest, refuses to stay where you put it. One sweep stirs up a dusty rebellion, sending clouds of debris into the air. You cough a couple of times, your trusty cloth mask proving no match for the chaos, and that’s when it hits you: Cleaning up after a wildfire isn’t just a chore; it’s a health hazard in disguise.
Is it a health hazard?
Unlike that favorite campfire you make each year to get that perfect smore, when a wildfire burns it’s much more than just trees and vegetation that are consumed. Fires are hungry! Sometimes structures, vehicles, electronics, plastics, and even soil can be consumed, releasing a dangerous mix of chemicals into the environment and the air you breathe.
Breathing wildfire smoke isn’t like inhaling campfire fumes. PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter), are of greatest health concern, because they can enter the lung and heart, causing serious health effects. Short-term exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, and irritated eyes, while long-term exposure may lead to more serious issues like heart disease, lung damage, and even cancer. YIKES.
That small innocent-looking pile of ash you were just sweeping up? It wasn’t just a few small trees. It was also a neighbor’s lawn mower, three old gallons of paint, four old tires, and insulation from a warehouse 6 miles away. It probably contained lead, arsenic, mercury, or other heavy metals.
Ash is also a potential health hazard, not just a nuisance. Touching it with bare skin can cause irritation or even burns. Moving it can release harmful particles into the air, creating an invisible cloud of risks. These particles can easily be inhaled or settle back down on the most unexpected surfaces.. So, that can of Pepsi you just found on the back porch? Give it a good wipe before taking a sip. Carefully.
If you find yourself outdoors in smoky air, how will you protect your lungs? Do you have masks ready? N95 or better??
What about inside? Would you close your windows and doors? Could you get an air purifier?
What about that ash? How will you keep it from taking off again? Do you have gloves and masks in your cleaning supplies? What can you hose down rather than wipe off?
Wildfire smoke and ash may not seem scary, but they’re more dangerous than you might think.
What can you do today to get ready to deal with smoke and ash tomorrow?
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For more insights about the dangers of hidden toxins, peruse these posts:
- Don’t inhale! | Creative Crisis Leadership
- Why Wildfire Smoke is a Health Concern | US EPA
- Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke | CDC
Check out our other Burning Truths.
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