Disconnect your down pipes from your tank and hose down the roof and gutters to remove ash and debris that may otherwise contaminate your water supply.

Have the air conditioner pads and tray cleaned to improve the efficiency of your air conditioner and run it on cool rather than vent to prevent dust particles entering your home.

Ash and dust has probably settled on most surfaces inside your home. Cleaning up is a big job but you should attempt to do this as soon as practical, especially if family members are susceptible to asthma or respiratory problems.

With little vegetation left in the fire affected area even moderate wind levels will move ash and dust about. Your home can be a safe place especially for people with asthma and respiratory problems. A damp towel to seal gaps under external doors really does help. Shut windows and run internal fans to keep cool or evaporative air conditioners running on the cool cycle.

Large property trees that have been affected by the fire should be inspected regularly and pushed over if you believe they are at risk of falling over. While your children will want to explore and play in the holidays, explain to them that playing near burnt tree is off limits.

Don’t forget that the power was out for quite a long time - some rural areas were without power for over a day. Refrigerated food, particularly perishable food like dairy produce, meat and poultry should be disposed of immediately. Lower risk foods such as preserves and opened canned or bottled food should be inspected now and disposed of if warranted – have a look at the expiry date and if you’re in doubt throw it out.

The length of time the power was off at your home will affect the quality of frozen food. If frozen food has thawed out dispose of it. If the power was only off for a few hours it should be consumed within the next few weeks. Again if you are in doubt throw it out.

If you sustained construction damage to older buildings remember there is a risk of lead and asbestos particles being present. Please don’t let children rummage through these areas - young people are in the high risk category and they should be kept well away.

The Department of Community Services is the agency who can help with the supply of drinking water, phone 69248144. If you are tanking water in yourself please be aware that water tankers need to be accredited to supply drinking water. Any old tanker will not do – the last thing you want is to fill your water tank with water that has been contaminated by a tanker that has not been chlorinated and cleaned for distributing drinking water.

Council understands that many people in the Junee area will have large quantities of fire related waste to dispose of due to the impact of the recent fires. Council has decided to waive the fee for green waste and other small amounts of fire waste disposed of at the Junee Waste Transfer Station, for private residents, until the end of January 2006.

• Bushfire Information: 1800 049 933
• NSW Rural Fire Service Information Line (Bush fire safety, Home fire safety, School projects):  1800 654 443 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm)
• SES (for assistance during storms and floods): 132 500
• CrimeStoppers (to report arson): 1800 333 000
• Emergencies: Please call 000 ONLY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
• Roads and Traffic Authority Road Closures: 132 701
• State Disaster Recovery Centre: The Department of Community Services is responsible for    providing welfare and community support to people affected by disaster in NSW under the State Disaster Plan: 1800 018 444
• NSW Farmers Association: www.nswfarmers.org.au

If you would like to clarify any of these or other health related issues, feel free to contact Junee Shire Council’s Environmental Health Department on (02) 6924 8100.

Contact: Graham Ritter, Environmental Health Officer.