March 3rd, 2008

Firefighters battling a blazing building may have been exposed to asbestos during the fire. The ravaged building now poses a threat to the public, since the gutted building still contains asbestos.

Firefighters called to a blazing bar may have been exposed to asbestos after air quality samples confirmed the presence of the dangerous substance. The firefighters were called to the bar in early December to put out a fire that ended up destroying six businesses in a Connecticut town. After the fire was put out, the gutted buildings were boarded up with plywood, which is not a safe standard for protecting the public from the same asbestos exposure the firefighters face.

Asbestos has to be sealed and ultimately removed by a strict procedure in order to keep the hazardous material from becoming airborne and exposing people to dangerous asbestos fibers. Breathing in asbestos fibers has been linked to emphysema, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer that results from fibers being trapped in the lungs. Asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, can take years to develop and are often times deadly once diagnosed. The building owner is refusing to properly seal the building; if the refusal continues, the town may have to take the building by imminent domain to keep the public safe.