Department of Health

After a fire: returning home safely

Houses, sheds and other buildings or structures burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards, including fallen objects, sharp objects, smouldering coals, damaged electrical wires, leaking gas and weakened walls.

Hazardous materials that may be present after the fire include: asbestos; ashes, especially from burnt treated timbers (such as copper chrome arsenate or 'CCA'); LP gas cylinders; medicines; garden or farm chemicals; other general chemicals (for example, cleaning products); metal and other residues from burnt household appliances; and dust.

Further information on how to protect yourself when returning to a bushfire-affected property is provided in the following fact sheet.

Details

Topic
Factsheets
Date published
11 Apr 2016
Size
2 pages
Author
Department of Health & Human Services
Update frequency
Annual
Available format
PDF, DOCX

Reviewed 12 April 2016

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