Ask Lemmy

I’m impacted by the wildfires in Colorado, had to evacuate and currently staying in a hotel. I expect my house is still standing (solar and some network devices were still responding until all power was cut off in the area and impacted the local ISP, and any fires in my immediate vicinity seem to have been controlled). The fires did get near or possibly to my home but the area is all grass and scrub, no trees so it was controlled. Hotspots were extinguished and I’m a bit outside the actual fire perimeter, with no real fuel for it to burn in my neighborhood further. Fingers crossed, I’ll get to go home in the coming weeks.

I’ve never been in a situation like this though. Even if the house is still standing and structurally sound, there’s probably smoke damage, possibly other burn damage from hot ash (the main fire perimeter reached within a mile of my home).

For anyone who’s been through a wildfire like this and gone home, what should I expect, and what hazards should I be aware of? Will things like clothes, bed, and so on be salvageable? Are there things that 100% should be discarded? And can the house just be cleaned and aired out? And is there anything specific structurally inside and outside I should look out for that might not be obvious?

Thanks!