Is It Safe To Surf After A Fire?

Another major reason to avoid surfing after a fire is the contamination of ocean water. Wildfires leave behind ash composed of everything consumed by the flames—plants, homes, plastics, and more. This ash washes into the ocean, filling the water with harmful particles. Surfing through or swallowing this water can expose you to toxins that irritate your mouth, eyes, and ears. To stay safe, wait at least two full tide cycles after the fire has been extinguished. This allows the ocean to naturally dilute and flush out much of the debris and toxins—a rule of thumb similar to avoiding the ocean after heavy rain.