DISCUSSION
The Carr Fire began in Shasta County on July 23, 2018 at approximately 1:15 p.m. Since that date, the fire has entered Trinity County and grown to more than 173,000 acres. As of August 8, 2018, the Carr Fire was 47% contained; 1,077 residences, 22 commercial structures, 500 outbuildings have been destroyed; in addition, 191 residences, 26 commercial structures, and 65 outbuildings have been damaged.
On August 6, 2018, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2018-068 which ratified the Shasta County Health Officer’s August 1, 2018 (in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 101080) declaration of a local health emergency due to immediate potential public health and safety threats arising from the combustion of building materials and household hazardous substances, resulting in fire-generated hazardous debris and toxic ash due to the Carr Fire. Board continuation of a local health emergency must occur at least every 14 days unless a waiver is obtained by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
There is a continued, imminent threat to public health and safety due to fire-generated potentially hazardous debris and toxic ash including but not limited to toxic, flammable, corrosive and reactive materials, and biologic agents on public and private property. Combusted building materials such as siding, roofing tiles, and insulation results in dangerous ash that may contain asbestos, heavy metals (such as lead and arsenic), and other hazardous substances. Household hazardous substances may include items such as paint, gasoline, cleaning products, pesticides, compressed gas cylinders, and other chemicals that may have been burned or released in the fire, such as from burned plastics, electronic devices, appliances, batteries, and auto parts and fluids. These chemicals can pose a threat via air, unintentional ingestion (e.g. young children or pets), contact or via impact on water supplies. Biologic agents such as from deceased animals, accumulations of spoiled perishable foods and other organic materials also pose an imminent and proximate threat. Exposure to these fire-generated toxic materials and hazardous substances during fire debris removal activities may lead to acute and/or chronic health effects and may cause long-term public health and environmental impacts.
Approval of the proposed resolution will continue the Shasta County local health emergency proclamation. |