After the major wildfires in the Los Angeles area, many Vietnamese American families have returned home with a sense of relief — the house is still there, belongings are still there. But the real danger is invisible. Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have detected numerous toxic substances that cause cancer, including arsenic, lead, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), present in soil, dust, and air in cleanup areas after fires. This is not something to worry about from a distance — it is a reality that millions of Southern California residents are facing right now.
This article will explain what specific health risks exist after wildfires, who faces the highest risk, and what you need to do — from house cleaning steps to when you should see a doctor.
When the AQI is 101 or higher, close your windows and don't let children or elderly people spend long periods outside — the dust you can't see is what's really dangerous.
Smoke and Ash: More Dangerous Than You Think
Many people think that once the fire goes out, it's over. In reality, ash and dust from forest fires are not the same as ash from your home kitchen. When fire burns through houses, cars, plastic pipes, electronics, and paint — all of those things burn together and create an extremely toxic chemical mixture.
According to the EPA, ash from urban wildfires can contain lead, mercury, arsenic, and benzene compounds (a confirmed carcinogen). These substances attach to fine dust, float in the air, seep into soil, and can contaminate local groundwater sources.
The most dangerous is fine dust PM2.5 — dust particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, about 30 times smaller than a human hair. They don't get stuck in your nose or throat like ordinary dust — they go straight deep into the lungs, even into the bloodstream.
Who in the Family Needs the Most Protection?
Not everyone is affected equally. In a typical Vietnamese American family in Southern California — often with multiple generations living together — there are certain groups that are particularly vulnerable.
Small children and babies are the highest-risk group. Children's lungs are still developing, and babies crawl on the floor and play near the ground — exactly where toxic dust accumulates the most. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), children breathe relatively more air per unit of body weight, so they absorb higher doses of toxic substances than adults.
Elderly people, especially grandparents living in the home, often already have heart or respiratory conditions. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that people over 65 have significantly higher risk of hospitalization for respiratory complications related to wildfires compared to healthy young people.
Pregnant women are also in a high-risk group. Some chemicals in wildfire ash can affect fetal development, especially in the first three months.
People who work outdoors — including many Vietnamese Americans in gardening, construction, or street vending — face longer exposure to polluted air and contaminated soil.
Symptoms to Watch For
After returning to the affected area, you may not notice anything immediately. But pay attention to these signs over the next few days to weeks:
- Prolonged cough or hoarseness with no clear cause
- Shortness of breath, chest tightness, or wheezing
- Continuous eye, nose, or throat irritation
- Headaches, dizziness, or unusual fatigue
- Young children refusing to eat or crying more than usual
If any of these symptoms persist for more than 48 hours after leaving the affected area, see a doctor — don't wait and see.
Cleaning Your Home Correctly
This is the part most families do wrong. The natural instinct is to go into the house, open windows for ventilation, and start cleaning right away. But doing so can cause toxic dust to fly up and you to breathe in more.
According to EPA guidelines and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the correct procedure is:
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Before entering the house, wear an N95 mask (not regular cloth masks), wear rubber gloves, and wear long pants and sleeves. Surgical masks or cloth masks cannot filter fine PM2.5 dust.
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Check your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system before turning on the air conditioning or heating. If the system was running during the fire, the filter may be full of toxic ash — turning it on means blowing ash throughout the entire house.
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Wipe surfaces with damp cloths, not by sweeping dry. Sweeping dry with a broom causes dust to fly up. Use damp cloths or a mop with clean water, working from high to low.
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Wash all clothes, bedding, and curtains before using again. Fabric fibers hold toxic dust very well.
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Rinse fruits and vegetables from your garden more thoroughly than usual, or avoid using them initially if you're unsure whether the soil has been contaminated.
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Don't let small children play on dirt or grass outside until soil testing confirms it's safe.
Special Considerations for the Vietnamese American Community in Southern California
There is a reality that our community needs to face directly: many Vietnamese American families in areas like Westminster, Garden Grove, Rosemead, and San Gabriel Valley live near affected areas and often have limited access to health information in Vietnamese from local authorities.
Language barriers are a real issue. Evacuation notices and safety guidelines are typically available only in English and Spanish. If there are grandparents or family members in your home who cannot read English, take the initiative to translate important notices from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website (publichealth.lacounty.gov) and California Air Resources Board (arb.ca.gov).
Nail salons and hair salons are a special concern. Many Vietnamese-owned nail salons in Southern California have had to close temporarily due to the wildfires, and when they reopen, small workspaces with poor ventilation can accumulate toxic dust for longer periods. According to the Vietnamese American Nail Association, salon owners should run HEPA air filters continuously for at least 72 hours before welcoming customers back, and replace central air conditioning filters.
Health insurance and medical costs: If you have Medi-Cal, costs for checkups and tests related to environmental exposure are typically covered. Contact Covered California (coveredca.gov) to verify your benefits. Some community clinics like Asian Health Services or QueensCare Family Clinics have Vietnamese-speaking staff and serve low-income patients.
Check Air Quality Daily
Before letting children play outside or opening windows, check the AQI (Air Quality Index) at airnow.gov or the IQAir app. Simple rules:
| AQI Index | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 50 | Green | Good — safe for everyone |
| 51 to 100 | Yellow | Moderate — sensitive groups should be cautious |
| 101 to 150 | Orange | Unhealthy for sensitive groups |
| 151 to 200 | Red | Unhealthy — limit outdoor activities |
| Above 200 | Purple or dark red | Hazardous — stay indoors |
AQI from 0 to 50 is safe for everyone, from 101 and above sensitive groups like small children and elderly people should limit outdoor time, and above 200 is dangerous and you should stay completely indoors.
When the AQI is 101 or higher, close the windows, run indoor air filters, and don't let children or elderly people spend long periods outside.
When to See a Doctor — and Where?
Don't wait until the illness is severe. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), anyone who has been in a major wildfire-affected area for more than 48 hours — especially children under 5 and people over 65 — should receive a preventive health evaluation by a doctor, even if symptoms are not yet apparent.
A doctor can order blood tests to check lead levels, or chest X-rays if there are concerns. These are simple tests and are typically covered by insurance.
Post-disaster health care is not a matter of a few days. Some effects of exposure to toxic chemicals can appear months or years later. Write down the dates you spent in the affected area — this information may be important later if you need medical records for insurance claims or participation in environmental damage compensation programs.