Asbestos-filled flames put New Zealand town at risk

Asbestos-filled flames put a town at risk

New Zealand – Fire crews were called out to an abandoned meat packing plant in Patea shortly before midnight last night. What awaited them were two large, burning buildings and the surrounding area lighted with shrubs covered in flames.

Eight fire trucks as well as tankers and support vehicles are already at the scene. Fire departments from Patea as well as volunteer brigades are currently doing their best to get the situation under control.

Civil Defense services and police have started evacuating homes in the town of Patea because of the prominent concern of asbestos exposure. Firefighters were given orders not to start dousing the fire until all citizens in the vicinity could be evacuated to a welfare center that has been set up in Hicks Park in Hawera. The reason officials do not want the fire doused is because the resulting asbestos-containing steam could be spread by winds to the areas where the homes are located.

Over 300 people living on more than a dozen streets need to be evacuated before work can be started to contain the flames.

The firefighters have been equipped with protective breathing apparatuses to prevent them from inhaling the toxic chemicals. The fire is expected to take several days to be put out. Additional help has already been requested from fire departments in nearby towns.

Officials said they are also worried about the long term health risks caused by air pollution containing asbestos particles which have already been spreading in the smokes of the fire.

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