Supplies
One of most critical areas needing to be cleaned after a wildfire evacuation is
the home kitchen, since many foods may have spoiled without refrigeration
and/or been damaged from exposure to heat or smoke. Plan ahead and have the necessary supplies when returning to your home. Here are some items to consider:
- Portable water for drinking and cleaning. It may be necessary to bring a supply of water for both drinking and cleaning if you are uncertain about the availability of water in your home. Various sizes of drinking water containers are generally available at most grocery stores.
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Rubber gloves and/or disposable gloves to wear while cleaning out refrigerators and freezers
- Paper towels for cleaning
- Heavy duty trash bags
- Safety masks in case of a strong smoke odor and/or smoke and ash particulates in the air
- Camera to document contents of refrigerators and freezers
Cleaning out refrigerators and freezers after an extended time without power
Perishable foods kept at room temperature provide an environment well suited for rapid growth of microorganisms – including types that cause food spoilage and foodborne illness. Removing those spoiled food items and properly cleaning interior surfaces of the refrigerator and freezer is a priority after returning to your house.
- Use heavy duty trash bags for gathering spoiled food items and transporting to discard site. Don’t overfill bags to prevent leakage.
- Liquid residues may have dried in hard to reach areas of refrigerator and freezer shelving. If shelves and drawers are removable, take out to immerse in water and clean well.
- Clean inside surfaces with a solution of dish soap in water. For removing odors, use a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water. Activated charcoal, available from aquarium or garden supply stores, placed in a shallow container inside the refrigerator may also help in removing odors.
- Sanitize inside and/or removable surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution of 100 ppm. Combine 1 tsp of bleach per gallon of warm water. Wipe down surfaces or use in a spray bottle with a contact time of 1 minute and allow to air dry.
- If you are considering discarding an appliance because of odors as a result of spoiled food, check with your insurance agent; insurance generally covers fire damage, not damage as a result of spoiled food.
Other food related issues to consider
- Rinse herbs and garden produce very well under running water to remove ash; discard if exposed to fire retardant.
- Run water in kitchen sink to flush out water which has been sitting in pipes for an extended time.
- If you have any doubt about the safety of well water, samples may be tested at various labs including Colorado State University’s Environmental Quality Laboratory.