“We know it’s a lot of emotions and feelings going on that you can put down your guard, but you shouldn’t do that. Just be safe. Be careful. Put all the gear you can — at least an N95 mask, gloves — and stay safe. Because you lost your property. But you don’t want to damage also your health in the longer run.” Mohammed Baalousha, professor, environmental health sciences, University of South Carolina.
Experts are concerned about the potentially toxic ash. As Scott McLean, former deputy chief of the communications bureau of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, explained:
“Ash is not just ash. Go back to the garage or what’s in your home. What is your furniture made out of? What are your appliances made out of? What is your house made out of? A lot of it’s petroleum product and different composites that are extreme hazards due to fire when they combust.”
Jackson Webster, professor of civil engineering, California State University, Chico, studies the aftermath of fires and the lasting health consequences:
“I always kind of reminded myself of all the people that ran into the World Trade Center on 9/11, and were really there for not that long of a period of time in terms of their total exposure. But there is increased cases of all kinds of different illness, sickness.”
AP, 1/21/25
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