Ash Poses a Danger to Homes, Cars, Pools, Pets

Fire and smoke are more hazardous, but the ash scattered by Monday’s wildfire can damage the homes, cars and pools it falls on.

“It can be very expensive if you don’t get it off your car,” said car dealer Chap Morris, general manager of William L. Morris--Fillmore. “The ash contains some of the tree’s saps and acids, and if it sits on a car long enough it will eat into the clear coat.”

Morris also advised car owners with fuel-injected vehicles to clean their air filters to ensure that the ash isn’t sucked into the engine. At his dealership, staffers used lawn blowers to clear ash off their fleet of 150 Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles and Geos.

“We’ll wash the cars once the fire’s over,” he said.

Pool repairman Bob Ritter of Oxnard warned that ash can do the same sort of damage to pools that Morris said it can do to cars.

“That ash can stain,” said Ritter, owner of Ritter Pool Service.

He suggested that pool owners keep their filters running. “Don’t worry about the electric bill. The ash is so fine, a skimmer basket may not work. Run the filter for a few days,” Ritter said.

“That might save you a lot of headache.”

Ash can annoy animals too, according to an Ojai veterinarian. John Halford urged pet owners to bring their dogs and cats inside. “The ash can irritate their eyes,” Halford said.

Smoke can frighten animals, Halford said. He recommended evacuating pets before flames get too close.

“There may not be time later,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than frightened animals in a fire.”

Ash has its boosters as well as its detractors.

“It’s good for the soil,” said Marie Jasina, manager of Dobson Nursery Ranch in Somis. “Some people dust their cabbages with it; it kills the aphids.”