Fire Safety for Returning Home-Echo Fire

Echo Mountain Fire-Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

Safety for returning home

IMMEDIATE SAFETY

Although wildfire damage can be immeasurable, the danger is not over after the flames are put out. Flash flooding and debris flows, structural damage, road instability, and damaged trees are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Stay away from your home or business until fire officials tell you it is safe to return.
  • Flash floods are a very real and potentially deadly hazard after a wildfire, particularly as a result of rain falling over a burned area upstream of your location. Stay away from burned forests, storm channels, and natural drainages (rivers, creeks, and engineered channels can convey deadly flows of water and debris, especially after a wildfire). Have a battery-powered radio to listen for emergency updates, weather forecasts, reports of flash flooding, and news reports.
  • Have an evacuation plan in place and make sure all family members are familiar with it.
  • Be aware of and use extreme caution around trees, power poles, and other tall objects or structures that may have lost stability during the fire. Most burned structures and surfaces will be unstable. Stay out of burned forests during windy conditions, as burned trees are easily downed by wind. Do not touch any power lines.
  • Keep a “fire watch.” That means look for smoke or sparks throughout the house and on rooftops (e.g., in gutters), etc. Look for ash pits or hidden embers. Stay away – they can burn you.
  • Before inspecting your home, first check for the smell of gas. Turn off power until you’ve completed your inspection. Use a battery-powered flashlight to inspect a damaged home. (Note: the flashlight should be turned on outside before entering. The battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.)
  • Do not drink or use water from the faucet until emergency officials say it is okay; water supply systems can be damaged and become polluted during wildfires or as a result of subsequent post-fire flooding. If your well has been damaged by fire, contact a local licensed and bonded well constructor or pump installer to determine the extent of the damage and what must be done to either repair or decommission the well.
  • Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, flood waters, or soot.
  • Utilities: If there is no power, check to make sure the main breaker is on. If the breakers are on and power is still not present, contact the utility company. If you have a propane tank or system, contact a propane supplier, turn off valves on the system, and leave valves closed until the supplier inspects your system. 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.

Video: https://youtu.be/29ds9nFgEpo

 

 

Staying Healthy when returning home.

  • Avoid vacuuming, which can stir up dust.
  • When driving in a vehicle, keep windows closed with air conditioning
  • set to recirculate.
  • Drink plenty of water to help reduce symptoms of scratchy throat
  • and coughing.
  • Wildfire smoke can cause burning, redness and tearing in the eyes. To relieve the symptoms, you can use over-the-counter artificial tear drops and drink enough water. Running a humidifier may also provide relief. Consult with a healthcare provider if symptoms last longer than several days. If you are in an area where there is a lot of ash or fine dust, consider wearing goggles.
  • Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters and/or electrostatic precipitators (ESP) can reduce indoor particle levels, but most are not effective at removing gases and odors. Air cleaners
  • using ozone will not remove particles unless they also use HEPA filters and/or ESP technology.
  • Also, humidifiers or dehumidifiers are not air cleaners and will not do much to reduce the amount of particles in the air during a smoke event.

https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/emergencymanagement/page/fire-damage-and-recovery

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7450 NE Avery Street • Suite A
Newport, OR 97365

541-574-0320

 

NWCH Office
7450 NE Avery Street • Suite A
Newport, OR 97365

The Ridge Apartments
3340 SE Harbor Drive
Lincoln City, OR 97367

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