Returning home after an evacuation

• Do not drink, prepare food, or wash with tap water until officials say the water source is safe
• If you are on a well or cistern that has been damaged, assume the water is not safe to drink

• Questions about the quality of drinking water should be directed to your local water supplier (e.g., municipality, utility provider)
• Community water systems where fire retardant was used in watershed areas will have increased monitoring for changes in water quality
• Your water supplier may issue:
  • A boil water notice which tells you that there are organisms in the water that can make you sick. To safely consume (swallow) the water, you must bring it to a rolling boil on a stovetop for at least 60 seconds to kill these harmful organisms
  • A do not consume notice means that there are harmful chemicals or other unsafe things in the water that can make you sick and that you CANNOT make the water safe by boiling it. The water can make you sick if you consume (swallow) it. Use bottled water instead
  • A do not use notice means you shouldn’t use your water for any reason, including bathing or washing. It cannot be made safe through disinfecting or boiling

• Do not drink or use water that has been impacted by wildfires
• Private surface and ground water sources affected by fire retardant application should be tested to ensure compliance with the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
• Sample bottles are provided by water testing laboratories
• If there is any evidence that the water supply has been affected by fire, an alternative source of drinking water should be used until the water source can be assessed or tested

• During fires, some components of septic systems may be damaged 
• If your property was directly impacted by fire your septic system should be assessed by a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner 

• Power outages will cause the circulation and treatment systems of pools and hot tubs to stop working
• Private pool owners should ensure adequate disinfection (chlorine levels) and circulation prior to using the pool
• Commercial pools may be closed temporarily as operators rebalance their chemicals

• Do not take any chances with the safety of your food
• Photograph food that you discard, it may be required for insurance purposes. Contact your insurance provider for specific requirements
• If the power has been out in your home or if you have been evacuated for a prolonged period (more than five days), the food in your fridge and freezer may no longer be safe to eat. Even if the power has been restored, throw out food that is spoiled, was thawed or that has been exposed to fire
• Canned goods should be safe, unless the can or lid has bulged, rusted, or is badly dented. Undamaged canned goods should be washed and disinfected if they've been exposed to smoke. Food in glass jars exposed to heat should be thrown out as seals may have broken

Discard food and items exposed to heat, ash, chemicals, soot, water and smoke including: 

• Food stored in cupboards, drawers, containers and open food
• Food packaged in paper, cardboard boxes, plastic or cellophane
• Bottles and jars of food with screw top lids or crown/crimp caps
• Single service items and utensils, which also includes individually plastic-wrapped items

• It may not be safe to eat fruits and vegetables that were growing above ground during the fire, especially if they came into contact with fire retardants
• Discard fruits and vegetables if visible fire-suppressant residues are present
• Rinse fire retardant off vegetation, such as trees, shrubs and plants, if possible
• Regularly wet down your garden and lawn until the smoke and ash have been diluted and/or reabsorbed into the air
• Ash and soot on vegetation will continue to emit smoke odours for some time

• When will you be on site?
• Once on site, who will help me with repairs? 
• When will the contractor be on site?
• How long will the repairs take? 

• Do I pay and keep the receipts, or will the insurance company pay upfront? 
• If I can’t access cash or credit cards, what should I do? 
• Does my insurance cover the costs of keeping my pets in a kennel?
• Am I eligible for additional living expenses to cover an increased cost of living while not at home?
• When can I move back home?

• Emergency Support Services
• Canadian Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Local religious organizations
• Non-profit crisis centers
• Your municipal emergency coordinator

• Food safety after a fire
• Fire retardants in source water
• Assessing sewage disposal systems for damage and repair
• Wildfire: Its effects on drinking water quality | HealthLink BC.  
• Well water testing | HealthLink BC. 
• PHO Approved Laboratory List.pdf (phsa.ca)

• Coping with a natural disaster (Canadian Mental Health Association)
• Emergency evacuation and recovery information (Government of BC)
• Disaster recovery information for the public (Government of BC)

• Returning home after evacuation | IH
• After a fire (BC Office of the Fire Commissioner)
• Returning to Your Home After Wildfires (First Nations Health Authority) 
• Recover after a wildfire (Government of BC)
• BC Guidance for Owners of Property Impacted by Wildfire Contaminants (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy)