Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is visiting Fort McMurray today, working with local officials to have evacuate residents back in their homes sometime in the next two weeks. But fires continue to burn in the area, and many residents will return to little more than ash.
The CDC notes that wildfire smoke, due to its mix of gas and tiny particles of organic matter can be especially irritating to lungs and eyes, and is know to worsen cardiac and respiratory diseases. Older individuals, individuals with chronic heart conditions, and those with asthma and other lung problems are most affected by wildfire smoke, but people of all ages and health statuses can be adversely affected.
Paper dust masks, such as those available at hardware and home and garden stores, and even surgical masks are not designed to filter the small particles typical to wildfire smoke and will likely be ineffective in preventing smoke particle inhalation.
Ash and smoke from burned homes and other man-made structures are usually even more hazardous than organic ash and smoke from wildfires. Ash and burned structure remains are generally not considered hazardous waste, however may still contain contaminants with serious risks, such as asbestos, industrial chemicals, flame-retardant chemicals, cancer causing arsenic, lead, and nickel, as well many other caustic and irritant substances.
Adults should avoid direct contact with ash and residue. Children and pets should not be allowed in or around ash or smoke from burned structures, and little may be salvageable from such structures due to contamination.
Sources for more guidance in handling ash:
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