b'By any measure, the fires that tore through Northern California were a major disaster. Forty-two people are dead, and 100,000 are displaced. More than 8,400 homes and other buildings were destroyed, more than 160,000 acres burned\\u2014and the fires aren\\u2019t all out yet. That devastation leaves behind another potential disaster: ash. No one knows how much. It\\u2019ll be full of heavy metals and toxins\\u2014no one knows exactly how much, and it depends on what burned and at what temperature.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices'