After a fire: returning home safely

Houses, sheds and other buildings or structures burnt in a bushfire can leave potential health hazards, including fallen objects, sharp objects, smouldering coals, damaged electrical wires, leaking gas and weakened walls.

Hazardous materials that may be present after the fire include:

• asbestos
• ashes, especially from burnt treated timbers (such as copper chrome arsenate or 'CCA')
• LP gas cylinders
• medicines
• garden or farm chemical
• other general chemicals (for example, cleaning products)
• metal and other residues from burnt household appliances, and
• dust.

Further information on how to protect yourself when returning to a bushfire-affected property is provided in the following fact sheet.