Firefighters are possibly at risk for exposure to asbestos

Newton, MA – Firefighters at Fire Station 3 are currently waiting on test results to find out if they might have been exposed to asbestos.

The first set of tests from FLI Environmental Inc., a company hired by the city, have already come back negative for asbestos in the air. However, results from another set of tests performed by the Division of Occupational Safety (DOS) have not been completed.

There is a possibility that four firefighters at Fire Station 3 were exposed to asbestos from ceiling debris that fell to the ground near them while contractors were performing renovation work on the building last week.

A spokesperson for the mayor said the safety and health of the building’s occupants are of the highest concern for the city and that better precautions need to be taken in the future before building renovation work begin.

The state’s DOS ordered a stop to all renovation work currently being done on firehouses until the agency has a chance to conduct an investigation into the safety of working conditions.

According to Fire Union President Tom Lopez, the union sent a letter to the city two years ago requesting this type of investigation, but the city never took any action until now. He is unconvinced about the safety of Fire Station 3 based on FLI Environmental’s findings, questioning why a cleanup crew was in the process of cleaning the area where the debris fell, as he was speaking, if there wasn’t a need for concern.

Firefighters have still been working in the building since the incident despite the risk of asbestos exposure.

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