“You have several problems to take into account after the flames: there are the clearances of toxic smoke, which transport pollutants, and the soot which also contains the extremely toxic pollutants that are hydrocarbons and dioxins. In addition to that, There can be chlorine formation because of burnt plastics and heavy metals, for example following the combustion of electric cables. Problems: the structure of the building will “fall ill ‘and start destroying themselves and the people who will occupy the premises will enter”, Prevents Antoine Indaco, Post-Information Expert. The Swiss engineer notably participated in the cleaning of the Mont-Blanc tunnel burnt down in 1999 following the conflagration of a refrigeration truck. A disaster that had caused 39 people to death and caused the tunnel to close for three years.
“To avoid the disaster, California should have been able to manage 500 simultaneous fire starts”
“Often, when you think of a fire, you only think of the event itself, the human disaster that it represents, people in danger and destroyed houses. But there is also everything that comes by the Continuation: the rubble to be cleaned, the buildings that must be treated and the pollution to be eliminated.Souligne M. Indaco.
Post-Infect stakeholders have a whole series of tools to manage this pollution. “”Solutions are used to neutralize chlorides and detergents to eliminate the soot and the pollutants they contain. The waters are then sucked in and treated so that they can be rejected without damaging nature. As for debris, they are sorted according to the type of pollutant they contain before being sent to special discharges “.
How long will California have to wait to regain health after fires? “”It’s hard to say! “, Estimo Indigo Antoine. “For a single building, it can already take a long time. For the Mont Blanc tunnel, post-start management lasted four to five months and it should not be forgotten that in the United States, insurance has decided to no longer ensure certain states, which is likely to make things last “, he adds.
“The error was made when you wanted to urbanize these places. But people were ready to pay 10, 15 or 20 million dollars for their villa”
-Mixed fires with unknown effects
Another cause of difficulties, California fires have the particularity of mixing forest fires and lights affecting large urban areas. They therefore enter the category of mixed fires, whose scientists still ignore the real effects. To see more clearly on the substances released by California fires, scientists have placed sensors on planes, but the results have not yet been published. In 2023, a study conducted by the University of Colorado, however, highlighted a wide range of harmful chemicals likely to be detected in this type of disaster, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, organic compounds toxic including known carcinogens (benzene, tolunes, xylenes, styrenes and formaldehyde), in addition to lead, chrome, cadmium and arsenic, as many molecules that affect the brain, liver, kidneys or lungs.
In addition, the authorities of Los Angeles were worried about a risk of significant pollution for certain sources of drinking water. In question: ashes, the delayers of flame dropped by air and the contaminated sediments which can fall or stream in tanks or rivers connected to the drinking water system. Pollution is also possible to infiltrate permanently into the soil and enter the distribution network as a result of breaks in pipes.
In prevention, the Los Angeles Water and Electricity Department has recommended residents of Palisades, Altadena and neighboring communities, “Do not drink”, in “boil” this water (since it is not a matter of bacteriological, but chemical) contamination and even to avoid “Long showers”.
What will be the impact of fire in California on health? “In the longer term, pollution can be transported over thousands of kilometers”
PFAS pollution
“There is still one thing that we have not mentioned and which has become essential: these are PFAS, these new substances also called eternal pollutants which are present in the anti -fire foam. If the firefighters used these substances , we will also have to take it into account. with active coals that can absorb these substances “, Finally add Antoine Indaco.
