Fire and Rescue NSW

06/06/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/05/2025 17:42

Fire and Rescue NSW warns flood-affected households about hazardous materials threats | NSW

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Fire and Rescue NSW warns flood-affected households about hazardous materials threats - NSW

Published: 06 Jun 2025 11:23am

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has issued a warning to residents, affected by the recent floods, to use caution around hazardous materials in and around the home.

A range of household chemicals and fluids may be among the materials compromised by the floodwaters.

Households are urged to carefully check items that might have been damaged, displaced or disturbed as properties were inundated, such as:

  • Smoke alarms
  • Batteries
  • LPG cylinders
  • Paints, polishes, varnishes and stains
  • Solvents including paint thinners and turpentine
  • Garden chemicals
  • Pesticides
  • Fertilisers
  • Pool chemicals
  • Fuel supplies
  • Brake fluids and coolants
  • Unidentified powders
  • Car care products
  • Acids and alkalis
  • Cleaning products

Hazardous materials, collected from flood-affected properties, must be set aside for specialist disposal as directed by your local council.

Community Recycling Centres take household problem waste for free.

To find your nearest centre and for full details about what you can drop off, visit NSW EPA.

If residents discover exposed asbestos as a result of the flood emergency, it must be safely removed by a licensed asbestos removalist.

The public should not try to handle animal carcasses…instead contact local authorities.

FRNSW encourages residents to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning up and clearing properties after the weather event.

This includes enclosed footwear, gloves, masks and protective eyewear if required.

Ventilate flooded buildings to prevent harmful mould. Be cautious when cleaning mould.

Do not use a dry brush as it can spread the mould and release spores into the air.

Taree Fire Station Officer, Peter Willard, warned residents not to approach any substance if you are not sure what it is.

"If a HAZMAT threat is identified, isolate the area, inform Fire and Rescue NSW and/or other authorities by calling Triple Zero (000) and remove yourself from harm's way," Station Officer Willard said.

"If you see danger signs, fumes, a chemical name, or people with symptoms, treat it as HAZMAT incident until proven otherwise."

The following sites may assist:

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Updated: 06 Jun 2025 09:28am

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Fire and Rescue NSW published this content on June 06, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 05, 2025 at 23:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io