Wildfire Hazards for Workers Continue After Flames Are Doused

Workers cleaning up the burned-out remains of buildings destroyed by wildfires should take precautions to stop themselves from ingesting hazardous chemicals and minerals, a new federal study says.

Cleanup workers also must make sure they don’t expose their families to the hazards by tracking home traces of hazardous debris on their clothes and shoes, the report says.

The study, produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, was based on research conducted in the aftermath of the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California. The blaze destroyed about 2,000 homes and commercial buildings.

Workers’ awareness of avoiding contamination varied ...