Colorado mall fire leads to asbestos concerns
The Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority (EPURA) of Colorado has warned that a fire at Park Theatre Mall on October 19 may have released asbestos into the air. When the mall had been built and remodeled, buildings were not required to have sprinkler systems, so asbestos was used generously as fireproofing material. It would be difficult to determine how much asbestos remained in the building at the time of the fire, as the toxic substance could have been found in the mall’s gypsum, walls and ceiling.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can lead to serious health problems for the construction and emergency personnel who were exposed to it. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
Dr. George Crislip has been in contact with EPURA, the fire chief and state and county environmental health officials to discuss the possible asbestos contamination. If contamination occurred, an extensive cleanup will be needed.
For the full story, go to Estes Park Trail-Gazette.
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