Old Ash in Fireplace

Hi,

I have a fireplace in my home, that I haven't used for several years. Today, I opened the glass doors and took a look inside. It has some old ash in it, maybe an inch deep, that I neglected to clean, and is somewhat smelly. Over all those years, I never noticed any smell while the doors were closed, and the doors do not form anywhere near an airtight seal. The ash looks kind of damp.

So now my question. How do I clean it? What precautions should I take? I was thinking of wearing one of those paper fiber masks, goggles, and gloves. I plan to gently sweep and scoop the major portion of it, and then vacuum the rest with a shop vac.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Bob P.

That's what I want to do. My reason for wearing a mask is concerns about mold. I figure it could give me some protection. I plan on doing it carefully so I don't kick up too much dust. Maybe I'm being overly concerned.