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MEDIA RELEASE Date: Month, day, year Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515 Wildland Fire Recovery: Returning Home after [Name of Fire Incident] The Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) is urging everyone to be aware of potential dangers and to take safety measures when returning to their homes after [name of fire incident]. Please be cautious that [name of the fire incident] may have created hazards in and around your home. To prevent injury when entering your home, be sure to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Protective equipment may include sturdy shoes to protect from glass or sharp objects, longs pants and shirt, hard hat, and a mask to prevent inhalation of dust and ash. Be advised: • Wear protective clothing in order to avoid skin contact and inhalation of ash and other materials. • Well-fitting dust masks (masks rated N-95 or P-l 00) are effective at blocking the particles from ash during cleanup. • It is not uncommon that animals may take refuge in or near your home during the fire. If you find animals in your home allow them to return to their natural habitat, or contact proper authorities for removal. • If you are in need of disposal or burial of any domesticated animals or livestock, be sure every part of the carcass is covered by at least three feet of soil; at a location at least 100 feet away from any well, spring, stream, or other surface waters; not in a low-lying area subject to seasonal flooding or within a 100-year flood plain; and not in a location likely to contaminate ground water. • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) you should not consume any food that looks or smells bad. Throwaway exposed perishable food that may be questionable, including canned goods and refrigerated items. • For those who have an open or closed wound and are returning to the bum area and who have not had a documented dose of tetanus vaccine within the past ten years should get a tetanus shot before returning home. For more information on returning home after a disaster and how to stay safe, visit the Centers for Disease Control at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disn tersh ildfires /afterfire.a p. Please contact the Kittitas County Public Health Department if you have concerns about disease and injury prevention relating to returning home at 509-962-7515. 74