Santiago fire Is Over! Now What?

By Michael Webster

The 2 1/2-week-old Santiago Orange County fire was fully surrounded at 6 p.m. Thursday, although firefighters were expected to keep dousing hot spots for some time.

“We’re very happy we finally have it contained but it doesn’t mean it’s out,” said Kris Concepcion, a battalion chief with the Orange County Fire Authority.

The stubborn wildfire has been contained after burning more than 44 square miles of canyon and forest land and forcing thousands from their homes, officials announced.

The fire’s remnants were mainly in the Cleveland National Forest, Concepcion said. The fire was set by an arsonist on Oct. 21. Fanned by Santa Ana winds, it destroyed 15 homes and damaged nine others.

A $250,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arsonist. The blaze was one of a number of wildfires that in recent weeks killed nine people, destroyed some 2,100 homes and charred more than 800 square miles of land from Los Angeles County to the Mexican border.

What now?

Among the tragedies left behind by fire is the loss of family valuables.  Guidelines from Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may help residents and businesses salvage some keepsake items from the recent wildfires.

Cherished heirlooms that survive a fire are often covered with soot and ash, requiring prompt and gentle attention to avoid further damage.  The following tips for cleaning soot and ash are based on the experience of respected conservation professionals who care for our nation's treasures in museums and libraries.

·         Safety first! Avoid skin or lung irritation. Wear plastic or rubber gloves, an N95 mask, and goggles during cleanup.

·         Get started promptly. The longer soot or ash sits on a surface, the more damage it does.

·         Handle objects as little as possible. If you must move them, use a tray or hanger, and grasp them in places that are normally hidden from view.

·         Resist the urge to wipe soot and ash-covered surfaces with a clean cloth; wiping will embed the soot and ash in the object and make it much more difficult to recover.

·         Remove soot and ash with a vacuum on the lowest setting. Do not let the nozzle touch the object and do not use a brush attachment; let the wand float over the surface.

·         After vacuuming, you may need to clean the object with a soot sponge, which can be purchased at major hardware stores. Unlike other sponges, these are used dry. Lay the sponge on the surface, press gently, and lift without rubbing. Cut off sections as they become dirty.

·         If soot and ash are wet � from fire hose water or a burst pipe - don't do anything to remove the objects from wet surfaces. Attempting to remove them will cause further damage. Get advice from a professional.

·         Do not rinse sooty or ash-covered treasures.

·         When cleaning textiles, do not unfold them - this will only disperse the soot.

·         Call in a pro. If a valuable family treasure is badly damaged, a professional conservator may be able to help. The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has a free referral service 202-452-9545 or aic.stanford.edu. The Regional Alliance for Preservation 800-843-8482 or www.preservecollections.org has information on preservation services.

These general guidelines are adapted from the Field Guide to Emergency Response produced by the national nonprofit Heritage Preservation.  A brief video demonstrating the cleaning technique is available at www.heritagepreservation.org/ .

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

The Local Assistance Center at the One Stop Center strip mall, 125 Technology Way in Irvine will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) on Tuesday, Nov. 6.  Hours will be Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

SBA Customer Service Representatives at the DLOC will be available to issue and accept loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual complete their application.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations. These loans are to repair or replace homes, businesses, and private personal property damaged by the Southern California wildfires.

This center will also have a FEMA representative on hand to answer questions on federal disaster assistance available for individuals and households.

Businesses or individuals unable to visit the DLOC may obtain information by calling toll-free: 1-800-659-2955 (TTY 1-800-877-8339) or visit SBA at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.