Asbestos Discovery Halts Demolition in Chorley
Sourced from the Chorley Guardian:
Officials in Chorley ordered a halt to a demolition project slated for a burned-out building. Building inspectors stopped the work after suspicions arose that the debris could contain high levels of asbestos. The town council called for local residents to evacuate their homes during last week's fire, but have stated that the area is not yet safe for them to move back.
The fire at the Apex House facility, which was primarily used for office space and equipment storage, started just past midnight on 1 June. Firefighters reported that no one was injured in the blaze. City safety inspectors initially ordered workers to start with the demolition after firefighters finished extinguishing the blaze. However, when work crews found what they believed to be asbestos in the walls, the work was immediately halted.
A member of the town council said that, although the presence of asbestos at the site has yet to be confirmed, investigators would examine the debris and determine if the demolition could continue. Gary Hall, the council's Director for Transformation, said that city leaders were taking the precaution of keeping residents away from the area until inspectors made a final determination. He also said that the council would help those residents who could not find a place to stay during the evacuation period and advised residents to contact the council's offices if they required assistance.
The fire itself was hot enough to affect many of the cars and houses along the street. Residents reported that exterior plastic on their gutters melted in the heat and car windows shattered from the intense blaze. Fire marshals ordered people to evacuate their homes during the firefighting efforts. Many of the affected residents stayed at a nearby hotel, expecting to return the next day.
Instead, officials ordered those who live and work in the area to stay away until they could ascertain the disposition of possible asbestos contamination. Residents were only allowed to return home briefly to pick up essential items, such as medication. Area business owners were forced to shut down their offices, which employed over a hundred workers, while inspectors investigated the debris. A council spokesperson said that they would help the business resume operation as soon as possible.
Police and fire department officials have voiced suspicions that the fire may have been intentionally set. A Chorley Police spokesman said that investigators are looking into the causes behind the blaze and are treating it as a possible case of arson. During the early stages of the probe, police have not released any theories as to the cause of the fire, nor have they named any potential suspects.
The potential for asbestos contamination in the debris from the fire raises significant health concerns for area residents and workers. Asbestos exposure is known to cause various forms of cancer and lung disease. The most prominent disease associated with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the band of tissue around the lungs. Mesothelioma patients often live two years or less after receiving their diagnosis.