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Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery

Wildfire Cleanup

Wildfire Cleanup

Losing a home to fire can be extremely traumatic, both physically and emotionally. With many things to deal with after a wildfire, the last thing many people think about is the hazardous nature of ash and fire debris on their property. But there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors from the hazards on your property.

Steps for cleaning up ash and fire debris:

  • Contact your insurance provider before you begin cleanup to learn of requirements they may have for reimbursement.
  • Contact your county or city code enforcement agency to determine their cleanup requirements for new construction permits.
  • Determine if the ash and debris contain asbestos. Many homes and buildings have materials with asbestos. State rules govern various aspects of managing and removing asbestos. You can hire an accredited inspector to survey your property for asbestos-containing materials, or you can presume that all debris and ash contain asbestos. DEQ strongly recommends hiring a licensed abatement contractor to perform any abatement activities. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and there is no known safe level of exposure. Refer to guidance on DEQ's asbestos webpage or contact DEQ prior to starting any ash or debris cleanup activities.
  • Contact your local waste disposal site to learn what requirements they have for waste acceptance. Many landfills require specific documentation of the waste you drop off so they can handle it properly and comply with regulations. This can include lab results to determine what hazardous materials are in your debris. If you do not have the proper documentation, you may not be allowed to dispose of your debris.
  • Communicate with emergency response teams and homeowners during cleanup to protect people from possible injuries and prevent further septic system damage. Septic system components such as tanks and drainfields may be damaged or destroyed during wildfires, but also after wildfires in the debris removal phase. Be sure to have property owners, licenced installers, pumpers, or maintenance providers flag or fence off all system components. Please refer to the 'Wildfires' section of DEQ's Disaster Planning and Response Handbook for Onsite Septic Systems for further guidance.  
  • Cover ash and debris loads during transport. Additionally, asbestos containing waste materials must be packaged properly for transport and disposal. This means double bagging the material in 6 mil plastic sheeting and labeling it as asbestos.
  • Recycle metal, concrete and wood debris. Clean recyclable materials with water prior to transport to reduce the spread of asbestos or other contaminants in the ash. Do not discharge water containing ash into the stormwater system or surface waters, as it can cause water quality issues.
  • Follow safety precautions outlined here.
Find more information about cleanup requirements on DEQ's wildfire debris removal webpage.

Why this process is important

Threat to Your Health

Doing your own cleanup without proper protection puts your health at risk. Burned materials are hazardous and require more than gloves and a mask to protect your health. Buildings constructed before 2004 are likely to contain asbestos, which is carcinogenic.

Difficult to Dispose

Many landfills require specific documentation of the waste people drop off so they can handle it properly and comply with their regulation. This can include lab results to determine what hazardous materials are in your debris. If you do not have the proper documentation, you may not be allowed to dispose of your debris.

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Questions?

Questions about wildfire cleanup? Email questions to odot.wildfire@odot.oregon.gov.

 

Additional Resources