Officials have begun warning evacuated homeowners about the dangers of sorting through fire debris.
Fire officials are concerned that the debris left behind by the wildfires in the state could still pose a risk to people who are seeking to clean up what’s left of their property, a report from KOB 4 said this week.
“There are some toxic chemicals and the dust, the ash chemicals like lead and copper and mercury and asbestos,” Marisa Maez, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), told the news station. “Just some of the ash in the dust you can inhale that stuff it can get on your skin, and it can be very dangerous.”
Maez added that they are asking residents who are let back into their ravaged communities to be mindful of sorting through debris and to leave the cleaning up to professionals.
People are being allowed to view the damages their homes incurred for insurance purposes; however, fire officials note that toxins can enter your body through your mouth or skin, and it is best to let people with adequate equipment clean up any debris, the report said.
The news station reported that homeowners who begin the process of cleaning their homes on their own could become ineligible for free fire cleanup crews provided by the government.