New guidance published for communities at risk of health impacts from wildfires

The UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) has partnered with UL Standards and Engagement to release new guidance for fire-prone communities in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. An estimated 70,000 communities and 45 million homes are at risk of destruction from wildfires. Additionally, WUI fires pose significant health risks. Smoke emitted from WUI fires likely contains a mixture of pollutants such as combustion gases, organic and inorganic metal complexes, volatile organic compounds, and numerous reaction products. WUI wildfire plumes pose risks of inhalation of dust and ash, ingestion of contaminated water, and ingestion of pollutants through skin contact.

This new guide, “UL 200C Guidance and Practical Strategies for Reducing Public Health Impacts of Wildland-Urban Interface Fires on Community Populations” (the Guide), provides homeowners, building managers, and the public with ways to prepare, respond, and recover They assist in fire incidents while protecting the health of their families and the building’s residents.

Wildfires across the United States are becoming larger, more frequent, more destructive and more toxic. In addition to the combustion products of forest biomass, synthetic materials from our homes, buildings and cars contribute to highly polluted air emissions. and residues containing toxins such as carcinogens and neurotoxins –; to our atmosphere. Measures to reduce exposure are critical to protecting people’s current and future health and this guidance is a big step forward.”

Marilyn Black, Ph.D., vice president and senior technical advisor for CIRI

To create the guide, a unique task force was formed –; known as the “Protecting Community Health (PCH) Task Force” –; which met over several months and reached consensus to formulate these guidelines designed for communities affected by fire events and conditions.

“The task force felt that this guidance represents a public health necessity,” said Christopher P. Weis, Ph.D., principal and science director of Weis Toxicology and a member of the task force. “With millions of people affected by these disasters, including children and populations with limited resources, this timely information will help public health officials, community planners and neighborhoods protect homes, buildings, families and citizens.”

Topics covered in the guide include: An overview of WUI fires; Understanding risk from a WUI fire; protecting indoor air quality; steps to protect a home or building; What to do in the event of a WUI fire? cleaning strategies to reduce hazardous exposures; and steps to monitor air and water quality.

The full guidance document can be found at: UL200C_Public-Health-Impacts-of-WUI-Fires.pdf (wildfirehealthrisks.org).