How to Assess and Clean Your Home Downwind of a Fire

Poor Los Angeles, Altadena, and Pasadena! I moved to Pasadena three weeks ago. My rental condo is in a great location near Old Downtown Pasadena. Only problem is, it’s two blocks south of the Eaton Fire Evacuation Area—and the wind blew like crazy right towards my building.

Now my balcony is covered with toxic fire ash, and the 70s windows are super leaky. I packed the car Tuesday night and left just as the fire was taking off on Wednesday morning before dawn, fearing for my safety, and took refuge at friends’ and families’ houses. Not wanting to return because of the risk of toxic ash downwind of the fire, it took me a week to come across the following information that will allow me to assess my safety there and plan my approach to getting it cleaned up.

Some other blogs are disseminating incorrect information, assuming cleanup of toxic ash is the same as cleanup after a virus. This us not the case.

I truly hope you find this information helpful:

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_marshall-fire-mat-homeowners-guide-risk-reduction-remediation-residential-smoke-damage.pdf