Managing health and safety risks after a fire
Following a bushfire, there could be dangers to people and animals from various hazards.
Impacted residents and those assisting in the recovery stage on fire-affected properties are encouraged to take care and follow government advice on clean-up assistance, waste disposal and personal safety.
Do not enter your property until you are advised that it is safe to do so. If a hazard identification notice is displayed on the property, note the dangers identified and seek advice on management. A range of assistance measures are available (PDF, 150KB) to support people affected by bushfires.
The following information relates specifically to managing risks to animals after a bushfire. Further information on managing the welfare of livestock after a fire.
Ash and debris in stock water
The quality of stock drinking water such as dams, waterways and troughs can be affected by ash and other debris following a bushfire. This is unlikely to be a health risk to animals, assuming stagnation has not occurred and water is not contaminated with dead animals or other toxic material.
A number of practical measures can be taken to improve water quality by clearing ash and debris (PDF, 114 KB).
Fire retardant
In the course of firefighting, aerially sprayed fire retardant may fall or drift onto grazing animals, pasture or water bodies.
NSW RFS advises that these chemicals have little effect on animals and that once landed on the ground, suppressants will degrade with exposure to the sun. The predominant ingredient in fire suppressants is similar to that found in many on-farm fertilisers.
Further information
- RFS factsheet on use of retardant during firefighting operations (PDF, 312 KB)
- NSW Health information on retardant and drinking water
- NSW Health information on rainwater tank maintenance
- NSW Government assistance to replace potable water (PDF, 150 KB) if rainwater catchment area (roof) is contaminated with fire retardant.
General hazards
With fencing damaged or destroyed, there are a number of hazards to pets and wandering livestock following bushfire. These may include unsafe building structures, exposed electrical wires and other damaged infrastructure, chemical stores, and previously fenced-off legacy dip sites, farm tips, roads and even backyard swimming pools. Treated timber ash poses a particularly serious risk to animals and people.
While personal safety is key for landholders in the clean-up phase, risks to animals also need to be managed. A number of practical measures can be taken to ensure animal safety, primarily by installing temporary exclusion fencing, and removal and disposal of hazardous material.
Please see the Primefact on management of chemical hazards to livestock following bushfire.
Further information
- Bushfire information
- Returning home safely after a bushfire
- Waste and clean-up following bushfire
- Property hazards following a bushfire
- Clean-up assistance
- For the removal and disposal of residential bush fire debris including asbestos, concrete slabs and dangerous trees. Property owners should call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or register online.
- For advice on removal and disposal of chemical containers – contact your local council
- For assistance on repairing and rebuilding fences
CCA treated timber
Areas where there may be significant amounts of ash from chemically treated timber, in particular copper-chrome-arsenate (CCA) treated timber, may pose a high risk to people and animals on properties affected by fire. Ash from CCA treated timber is toxic and may contain more than 10% of its weight as heavy metal residue, including arsenic. Read more at the EPA factsheet on disposal of treated timber.
Where practicable, livestock access to ash derived from stockpiled treated timbers should be prevented.
Care must be taken in clearing ash derived from treated timber structures or stockpiles of such timber. Residents should follow advice (PDF, 105 KB) provided.
