Fears Over Asbestos Exposure After Large Fire
Building owners in Ontonagon, MI are concerned about asbestos exposure after several historical River Street buildings burned in a major fire.
City officials and the Michigan State Fire Marshall have informed building owners that they will need to make arrangements to have asbestos removed and disposed of safely before they can begin to rebuild.
“What’s going to happen is they’re going to contact the proper company to come in, contain it, put it in containing units, and haul it to a local landfill,” said Sheriff John Gravier.
Many of the buildings were over 100 years old and had been severely damaged in another fire almost a century ago.
Officials located asbestos in all burned buildings in the form of insulation, siding and floor tiles. All contaminated areas are roped off to the public.
