County declares health emergency due to Borel Fire, warns of possible dangers in burnt homes

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — As some residents return to sift through the ashes of their homes destroyed by the Borel Fire, Kern County officials declared and ratified a local emergency as evacuation orders are slowly being lifted.

Kern County Public Health says the ashes from homes could contain harmful chemicals and it wants returning residents to protect themselves. The Borel Fire has burned over 59,000 acres, and has over 1,400 personnel working to contain it.

While evacuation orders are still in place for some residents in the surrounding community, when they do eventually lift, Kern Public Health warns on what remains.

“Different materials you use when you’re building, asbestos may be in the ash, and different hazards that you have within your house like paint or cleaning products,” said Brynn Carrigan, director of Kern County Public Health. “As they burn, it all gets into the ash, and the ash itself becomes hazardous.”

While these chemicals are harmful, Carrigan says there are still ways you can protect yourself.

“We suggest that you wear gloves, you wear long sleeves, long pants, that you wear a respirator or a mask of some sort because you don’t want that ash to be inhaled or touch your skin,” she said.

At a community meeting held Sunday, victims described their houses, and what little remained.

“All the glass is dangling from the frames of the windows, my children’s bedroom has no window,” said Elissa Beckham, a resident of Havilah. “Their bedroom was filled with smoke, their walls are damaged, their beds are ruined, their toys are trash.”

More information on how to protect yourself from these substances is linked here on the Kern County Public Health website.

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