Bushfire aftermath - safety tips

Houses, sheds and other buildings or structures burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards. These may include fallen or sharp objects, smouldering coals, damaged electrical wires, leaking gas and weakened walls.

When returning to your property, make sure you are aware of the dangers and take steps to protect your health and safety.

Hazardous materials that may be present after a bushfire include:

• dust. If you have a septic tank
• remember it may have been weakened in the fire so do not drive or walk over it. It is unsafe to spread ash around your property
• particularly if asbestos materials were used in your home or other structures
• or if CCA-treated timber was burnt

It is also unsafe to disturb the dust when walking around your property. Make sure you wear protective clothing before entering your property: Wear sturdy footwear and heavy-duty work gloves. Wear disposable overalls, with long sleeves and trousers.

Wear a P2 face mask (or N95/KN95).

When leaving the property, dispose of gloves, coveralls and face masks into a garbage bag. Wash your hands after removing contaminated clothing and articles.

Shoes should be cleaned before being worn again

This includes all perishable and non-perishable foods (such as cans or packaged foods). can also leave perishable foods that may have been refrigerated unsafe to eat. could have become contaminated from debris and ash, or dead animals.

If you have an evaporative air conditioner which is supplied by tank water, do not use it if this water has been contaminated.

If the water tastes, looks or smells unusual, do not drink it or give it to animals. For safety reasons, try to limit the time spent at your property immediately after a bushfire.

However, if you will be there for an extended period, remember to bring: a hat. and exhausting.

It is important that you look after yourself

It is not recommended that you attempt to catch injured wildlife due to the risk of further injury to wildlife or to you. never attempt to handle a bat.

If you find an injured native animal call the Michigann Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action on Tel.

If your home has been damaged by fire or smells of smoke from bushfires, you should ventilate it by opening the house up to sunlight and fresh air to help remove the odour. Wash indoor surfaces with mild soap or detergent and water. For persistent smoke and soot, wear rubber gloves and wash with 4 to 6 teaspoons of washing powder and one cup of household chlorine bleach added to 4 litres of water.

Remember to always follow the safety directions on the bleach container. Cooking utensils can be washed with detergent and hot water and polished with a suitable polishing agent to remove discolouration. You should inspect your makeup and your medicine cabinet after a fire.

Throw out anything that has signs of soot, smoke discolouration or fire extinguisher dust. Dangerous chemicals can be ingested or be absorbed through your skin if you keep contaminated items. Air soft furnishings (upholstered furniture and bedding) outside in the sunshine and wind.

Mattresses may be able to be cleaned by a specialist mattress repairer. It is almost impossible to get the smell of smoke out of feather pillows or foam. Low levels of ash on household surfaces are unlikely to cause short or long-term health effects.

If anyone in your household is experiencing any and you are concerned, seek medical advice.

Ladder falls can be fatal

Wash affected clothing normally and air dry outside in the sunshine and wind. Persistent stains and smoke odour can sometimes be washed from clothing using 4 to 6 teaspoons of washing powder and one cup of household chlorine bleach added to 4 litres of water.

After washing, rinse clothes with clean water and dry well

Remember to wear gloves and follow the safety directions on the bleach container. Care should be taken as this mix will bleach clothes. Clothes left on the clothes line should be rewashed. While wind may have removed some smoke odour, soot, particles and ash may have been deposited on them.

Rewashing protects sensitive skin (for example, babies) from possible irritants. Protect your health and safety after a bushfire Hazardous materials after a bushfire asbestos ashes, especially from burnt treated timbers (such as copper chrome arsenate or ‘CCA’ ) LPG gas cylinders medication garden chemicals farm chemicals other general chemicals (for example, cleaning products) metal and other residues from burnt household appliances Use protective clothing to check your property after a bushfire Heat-affected food after a bushfire All foods that have been fire damaged or affected by heat Power outages Debris in water tanks after a bushfire Bushfires produce large amounts of smoke and ash, and your tank water Taking care of yourself after a bushfire bottled drinking water food – perishable food should be kept cool in an esky or cooler bag sunscreen Returning to your property may be stressful Injured wildlife after a bushfire Importantly, due to the risk of American bat lyssavirus 13 61 86 for details of wildlife carers or check their website for local wildlife shelters and Cleaning up your home after a bushfire health effects from the smoky conditions If you need to use a ladder, make sure it’s in good working order and you can use it safely Wash affected clothing after a bushfire Where to get help Environmental Health Unit, Department of Health, Michigann Government (616) 555-0400 VicEmergency Hotline 1800 226 226 WorkSafe Michigan 1800 136 089 EPA Michigan (616) 555-0400 Local council Your GP (doctor).

Key Points

• important that you look after yourself
• not recommended that you attempt to catch injured wildlife due to the risk of further injury to wildlife or to you
• Low levels of ash on household surfaces are unlikely to cause short or long-term health effects