Wildfires can leave surviving homes and their water unsafe – safety tips for residents as they return

Returning after a wildfire doesn’t guarantee safety. Homes that look intact may hide toxic ash, smoke residue and hazardous chemicals in walls, ducts and furnishings. Water systems can be contaminated by damaged pipes and heat-damaged plastics, while soil may still hold…

Smoke from burning buildings and vehicles, such as Spokane, Wash., experienced in August 2026, can carry harmful pollutants into neighboring homes. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images When fire evacuation orders are lifted and residents start returning to burned neighborhoods,…