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