April 12th, 2008

A fire station in Washington state was shut down this week after asbestos was found in the building. The firefighters and paramedics assigned to the firehouse were relocated to other places.

Recent tests in a Washington fire station ended up closing down the building after results showed positive for asbestos. The building had previously been tested and those results were negative. It was only after a second test was conducted on surfaces in the firehouse that asbestos was found, and the staff was relocated to other places. Firefighters in the building were temporarily reassigned to a public works facility, and paramedics were sent to the local fire station headquarters. More testing is being conducted to set a course of action for cleaning up and removing the dangerous substance.

Asbestos does not normally pose a health threat when it is left undisturbed and in sealed conditions. When the material is exposed, however, it can break apart and become airborne, causing a concern. Breathing in asbestos particles has been known to result in respiratory diseases like emphysema and mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma occurs when airborne asbestos particles are breathed into the lungs and become stuck there. Officials state that there seems to have been no dangers to workers at the station.