These are the hazards Californians face after fires – and what homeowners can do to protect themselves

Homes and cars contain a multitude of potentially hazardous materials, including lead, battery acid, arsenic and carcinogens found in plastics. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

The wildfires raging across the Los Angeles landscape have destroyed many thousands of homes and buildings and damaged hundreds more.

And each property, experts warn, could pose a risk to Angelenos even long after the flames are extinguished.