Clean up tips for returning northern fire evacuees
The Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority is urging residents returning home to take the necessary steps to avoid possible health hazards from evacuated areas affected by forest fires or excessive smoke.
Residents returning home urged to take the necessary steps to avoid health hazards left by forest fires
With a little help from the rain this past week, more northern Saskatchewan fire evacuees have begun heading home.
- 1,000s of Saskatchewan fire evacuees returning home to La Ronge and area
- Saskatchewan wildfires: another 1,000 evacuees going home
However, the excessive smoke and damage from the forest fires can lead to a few health hazards.
Medical Health Officer for the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, has advised all returning northern residents to take precautionary measures while cleaning their homes. This includes:
- Wearing personal protective equipment (mask, eye goggles, rubber gloves and long sleeved shirts and pants) when cleaning or coming into contact with soot, ash or excessive smoke odour
- Removing food that has been expired or not held at appropriate temperatures
- Wiping all internal surfaces (counters, windows, tables, stoves, etc.) using a cloth with warm water and detergent. Vinegar and baking soda will help with the smoke odour
- Cleaning floors with a damp or wet mop. Try to avoid initial cleaning with a vacuum.This could add to the fine dust in the air. Be sure to have good ventilation with windows or doors open if you need to vacuum
- Washing and scrubbing external surfaces to rid your home of ash and soot
- Launder all clothing
- Keep windows and doors open as much as possible to remove the smell of smoke
- Change air filters for your heating, ventilating and air-conditioning units when you first return to your home
- Flush your water lines in the house especially the hot water if you have not been in the house for the evacuation period