Iowa Fire Debris Tested for Asbestos

Several environmental tests conducted on debris that remained from a fire at a manufacturing plant near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, showed that the smoke contained trace levels of asbestos. The fire started on December 15 at the former Sinclair meatpacking plant in the suburb of New Bohemia. Fire crews from multiple local jurisdictions responded to the blaze. According to Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Steve Havlik, the water that the crews used to extinguish the fire was also useful in reducing the chances of dangerous asbestos fibers from becoming airborne.

When local residents noticed the smoke emanating from the plant's structures, many became concerned about potential airborne contaminants. As the fire continued to burn, city officials hired a local demolition firm, D.W. Zinser Company, to assist with demolishing the building and helping firefighters access any remaining points where the blaze still raged. Workers with Zinser also carry state and federal certifications to conduct asbestos abatement processes.

Another firm, Family Environmental Compliance Services, tested the air quality around the plant. The firm's offices sit less than half a mile from the plant site, and many workers complained about the thick smoke during the fire. Family Environmental investigators conducted several air quality tests to determine the content of the smoke and to insure the safety of their office staff. The results of their tests showed that the smoke contained an average of less than one fiber per one hundred cubic centimeters, well below the "safe" level prescribed by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Before the fire, the Friday after Thanksgiving, another firm, Howard R. Green Company, tested some of the structures at the site for the presence of asbestos. Although one of the buildings tested positive for asbestos, investigators have determined that the plant fire did not affect the contaminated building. After the fire, workers at Zinser inspected the debris and found asbestos fibers in a sheet of insulation used on one of the building's larger pipes, which the company later removed.

Although the blaze is thought to be under control, firefighters are still contending with pockets of fire throughout the extensive plant site. As demolition crews continue to take down walls and other obstacles between the firefighters and the remaining potential trouble spots, concerns about possible asbestos contamination will still present problems to both fire crews and local residents.

The smoke that continues to rise from the remnants of the fire has caused local health officials to issue warnings to those residents who suffer from respiratory ailments. A spokesman with the Linn County Public Health Office stated that his office has extended health advisories to residents with asthma, emphysema and other breathing problems to remain indoors and cut back on outdoor activities.

Cedar Rapids City Manager Jim Prosser issued a statement to reassure area residents that local health and environmental officials have "taken every measure" to minimize the impact of this "emergency situation". He also said that his office will give out additional results from the next round of air quality tests as they become available.

Sources: KCRG, Istockanalyst.com

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