The City of South Pasadena urges residents to take precautions when cleaning up ash from wildfires. Ash particles are usually bigger than smoke particles, but can still cause health problems. People with heart or lung diseases, older adults, children, and pregnant women should use special caution around ash.
When cleaning up ash:
😷 Wear a tight-fitting disposable respirator (such as a N-95 or P-100 respirator mask) to protect your lungs.
🥽 Wear goggles, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks to avoid skin contact.
🧹 Mist lightly with water and then sweep gently with a broom or wet mop. Direct ash-filled water to ground areas and away from the storm drains. Don’t use leaf blowers!
🗑️ Collect ash into a plastic bag and dispose in the regular trash.
🏠 Inside your home, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or, if possible, similar industrial ones with disposable collection filter bags. Misting lightly with water and then sweeping gently with a broom is another option.
🚗 Take your car to the car wash.
🧸 Wash off toys.
🐶 Clean ash off pets.
City Hall Scoop 