When returning home after being evacuated from a fire, many people are overwhelmed with emotions and questions. Is it safe to go home? What should I do or look for when I return home? The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) understands that safety is a main priority after a wildfire.
Once you have official clearance to return home, here are some safety tips and things to look out for.
BEFORE RETURNING HOME
Once you have been given approval to return home by your local officials, it’s important to understand that there may be new hazards present. Before you return home, you should check QuickMap to identify any new roadway hazards or alternate routes that you may have to take to enter or exit your neighborhood.
RETURNING HOME AND CHECKING FOR DAMAGES
After you have returned to your home and neighborhood, you should walk around your house and do a quick damage assessment to see if you can spot any immediate issues. Around your home you may see trees, brush, and rocks that may have been impacted by the fire.
Before entering your home, check for the smell of gas, hot embers in rain gutters, on the roof, under overhangs, under decks and in crawl spaces.
When entering a building like your house or other structures on your property, it’s important to use flashlights until you can ensure there is no electrical damage.
If the electric meter has any visible damage, do not attempt to turn the breakers on. If there are electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact your local utility company immediately.
If you have a propane tank or natural gas, leave valves closed until the supplier or utilities can inspect your system. If your propane or utility services have any visible damage to the gas meter, gas lines or propane tank, do not attempt to repair it. Call your local propane company or utility.
If you have a heating oil tank system, contact a heating oil supplier for an inspection of your system before you use it.
If you have a solar electrical system, this system should be inspected by a licensed technician to verify that the solar panels and electrical wiring are safe for continued operation.
ONCE YOU ARE HOME
After you have safely entered your home, it’s important to start taking pictures and videos of everything. Take pictures of any damages inside or outside your home and around your property. This type of documentation can be useful for insurance companies. While doing these assessments it’s important to be extra cautious around trees, power poles and other tall objects or structures because they may have been weakened by fire.
Next, you should discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot. Items in your refrigerator may also be spoiled and will need to be discarded. If you are an individual who has been impacted by a recent disaster and needs food assistance, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has CalFresh disaster information available. Do not drink water from the faucet until emergency officials say it is okay, water supply systems can be damaged and become polluted during wildfires.
DEBRIS REMOVAL
Debris Removal is an important part of recovering from a wildfire. Through the State’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, Cal OES and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (Cal Recycle) work with participating counties to have state-approved crews work tirelessly together to clear wildfire debris consisting of contaminated soil, metal, ash, concrete, and hazardous trees.
Cal Recycle has put together a Recovery Guide to Wildfire Debris Removal that’s has information that can guide you through the debris removal process.
Additionally, Cal OES has some frequently asked questions and answers to help get you started.
- What is the Consolidated Debris Removal Program?
The Consolidated Debris Removal Program (Program) has two phases: removal of household hazardous waste and removal of other fire-related debris.
In Phase I, local government, state and federal agencies have organized teams of experts from the California State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to inspect your property and remove any household hazardous waste that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment such as batteries, herbicide, pesticide, propane tanks, asbestos siding, and paints. Phase I is automatic and includes both residential and commercial properties destroyed by the fire.
In Phase II, the Cal OES, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and local officials coordinate with the State’s Debris Task Force and its Debris Management Teams to conduct fire-related debris removal from your property if you have elected to participate in the program by completing and signing a Right-of-Entry Form.
- What do I need to do?
Phase I (household hazardous waste): You do not need to do anything to have household hazardous waste removed from your property.
Phase II (remaining fire-related debris): To sign up for the Phase II Program, you will complete a Right-of-Entry (ROE) form to grant government contractors access to your property to conduct the debris removal. Please provide insurance information with the ROE Form as applicable.
- After I turn in an ROE to my local government, what happens next?
First, the ROE Center reviews your ROE to ensure it has been filled out correctly. They will also cross-check property records to verify you are the property owner. Afterward, the ROE will be transferred to the Debris Management Teams for processing and scheduling.
- How will I know if household hazardous waste has been removed from my property?
The Debris Management Teams will mark the property indicating that household hazardous waste has been removed.
- Is the debris-removal program only for houses that are completely destroyed?
This debris removal program is for fire-damaged or destroyed houses, as directed by a local government. If you are unsure if your house qualifies for the debris- removal program, submit a Right-of-Entry form to your local government for assessment.
- What is considered household hazardous waste?
Household hazardous waste is waste from houses that poses a threat to public health, animals, or the environment. Hazardous waste includes chemicals that are ignitable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. Examples include pool chemicals, car batteries, antifreeze, used oil filters, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, propane tanks, disinfectants, aerosols, paint, bleach, and ammunition.
For more information on debris removal and how to get started, visit: