Round Fire Update, Swall Meadows (Mono County Public Health Advisory Notice)
Round Fire Update: Mono County Public Health Department Advisory
Please find the following Advisory Notice from the Mono County Health Department regarding the potential hazards in the burnt debris and ashes of those homes destroyed in the fires. We are passing this information along on behalf of the Health Department. Thank you! - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer
Advisory Notice
Debris and Ash from Residential Fire may be Hazardous
Ash and debris from burned buildings and homes can contain toxic substances due to the presence of synthetic and hazardous materials. Older buildings often contain asbestos and lead.
Household hazardous waste such as gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides, and other chemicals may have been stored in homes, garages, or sheds that may have burned in the fire. These materials can become concentrated in ash and soil following a fire. It is important not to expose yourself, your family or others to any of these materials. Exposures can occur by sifting through ash and debris, causing ash to become airborne and inhaled or ingested.
Mono County is working to secure additional resources and funding from State agencies that will ensure proper handling and disposal of debris and ash from the fire. In the meantime, property owners are strongly recommended to not begin cleanup activities in order to protect their health and the health of their neighbors.
Because ash and debris generated in the fire may be considered hazardous waste, local landfills and transfer stations are currently not permitted to accept this waste. This restriction is in place to protect the health of anyone who may come into contact with the waste, including solid waste facility employees, solid waste haulers, and the public.
Mono County will post more information as it becomes available on the following website:
https://gis.mono.ca.gov/roundfire
Also, for information on proper disposal at local waste sites of the burnt home debris, please see the documents at the bottom of this notice. Thank you!
