Everett, Washington Firefighters put at risk to asbestos exposure

Everett, Washington – According to recent findings, there is possibility that some Everett firefighters were exposed to asbestos during their training at some abandoned homes last year. To make matters worse, it appears that a captain of the department may have known about the risks but sent his firefighters to train there anyway.

Several other fire departments around the city had also sent their firefighters there to train at the invitation of the Everett Fire Department.

Documents show that on July 18, a construction company told an Everett Fire Department captain that the houses contained asbestos and required abatement before it would be safe for firefighters to train in them. However, records show that less than a week later, Everett firefighters were undergoing training in the houses. Asbestos removal hadn’t been planned until July 30.

Everett firefighters as well as those from other departments that had trained at the houses are wondering why they were never told about the risk. Troy Smith, union president for firefighters in Snohomish County Fire District 7, said that they did not find out until it broke out in the news. To this day, no official word has been communicated to them.

Smith said during the training, his guys were being dragged around the houses, not knowing that asbestos was present around them. Firefighters from the Everett department also tore into walls with axes.

Last month, Everett officials claimed that no one was aware of the presence of asbestos. They believe that miscommunication took place between the parties involved about when training could begin at the houses.

The city is currently surveying all firefighters to determine who all trained at the houses. It is also looking into ways to monitor the health of those put at risk. However, according to the National Cancer Institute, the damage from asbestos exposure do not surface for years afterwards.

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