Residents returning to fire-damaged areas are being warned about hazards that may remain even after the flames are out.
All remaining evacuation levels for the Old Trails Road and Autumn Lane fires have been lifted as firefighters continue making progress on the Spokane Complex fires, officials announced Tuesday.
The remaining evacuation levels were lifted around 2 p.m. Tuesday after consultation with the Spokane Complex Fire Incident Management Team and local partners.
Although evacuation restrictions are no longer in place, firefighting, utility work, damage assessments, and other recovery operations are continuing in the affected areas. Officials are asking people returning to the area to use caution and keep roads clear for large trucks and equipment.
Spokane County also remains at high risk for new fire starts, and officials are urging residents to avoid activities that could create sparks or ignite another fire.
Hazards remain in burned areas
Residents returning to fire-damaged areas are being warned about hazards that may remain even after the flames are out.
Burned homes, vehicles and other structures can leave behind ash containing potentially hazardous substances, including lead, arsenic, mercury, asbestos and chemicals from household products, fuels and batteries. Those contaminants can become airborne when disturbed and potentially spread to neighboring properties.
Officials recommend wearing a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator if ash or dust is present, along with gloves, long sleeves, pants, sturdy boots and eye protection. Children, older adults and pets should be kept away from burned structures and ash.
Damaged structures may also have unstable walls, collapsed roofs, weakened floors, hidden hot spots, exposed nails and broken glass, as well as damaged electrical or gas service. Officials warn people not to enter structures that have not been evaluated and deemed safe.
What residents should know when returning home
Spokane Regional Health District is also urging people whose homes were not obviously damaged to remain cautious when returning. Being cleared to return to an area does not mean every home is free of wildfire-related hazards.
A home that appears to have escaped the flames may still have been exposed to smoke, ash and fire-suppression chemicals. Health officials recommend checking the outside of a home for ash, soot and damage before entering.
Anyone who discovers structural damage, damaged electrical wiring or signs of a gas leak should stay out and contact the appropriate utility or emergency officials.
Cleaning up ash and debris
Residents should avoid dry sweeping ash or using regular household or shop vacuums, which can send fine particles back into the air. Officials instead recommend lightly misting ash with water to minimize dust and using HEPA-filtered vacuums when appropriate.
Health officials also recommend wearing gloves while cleaning ash, keeping children and pets away from contaminated materials, and using wet cleaning methods rather than dry sweeping inside homes.
Officials cautioned that partially damaged or burned structures in the fire areas have not necessarily undergone structural inspections and could be at risk of collapse.
Recovery efforts continue
The Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group is organizing resources for people affected by the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, which make up the Spokane Complex.
Officials said the region is now moving further into the damage assessment and recovery phase, but warned the process will be long and challenging.
Firefighters, utility crews and recovery teams will continue working throughout the affected areas even though all evacuation levels have been lifted.
