IN THE WAKE OF THE RAMPAGING FIRES

Authorities also said City of Poway assessment teams have determined that the entire city except for the High Valley area is safe for residents to return to their homes.

Evacuated Escondido residents only can call (760) 839-6262 to find out if they are now being allowed to return to their homes.

Residents can get the latest information about the status of the fires by visiting the County of San Diego’s Emergency Web site at www.sdcountyemergency.com. Residents should call 2-1-1 for all non-emergency calls related to this fire. Residents may also call the City of San Diego Community Access Phone at 619-570-1070 for additional fire information.

With the declaration by President Bush, individuals and business owners can avail of federal aid that can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help recover from the effects of the disaster.

FEMA said that those who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST Monday through Sunday.

As some residents are allowed back into their homes and neighborhoods by officials, there are several precautions they should take as they begin the task of cleaning up:

· Avoid disseminating ash into the air; do not use leaf blowers or non-HEPA filter vacuums.

· The Regional Water Control Quality Board asks that you avoid washing ash into storm drains if possible.

· Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants to avoid skin contact.

· If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.

· Wear well-fitting dust masks; those rated N-95 or P-100 provide better protection than simple dust or surgical masks. Persons with heart or lung disease should consult a physician before using a mask.

· Lightly mist indoor and outdoor hard surfaces before gently sweeping ash, followed by wet mopping. On lightly dusted areas, a damp cloth or wet mop may be all that is needed.

Ash deposited on indoor and outdoor surfaces near the fire is relatively non-toxic and is similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. However, any ash:

may be irritating to the skin, especially sensitive skin

will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals