We’ve received more than a few questions from residents expressing fears over the planned burning of the abandoned Children’s Home cottages on 5th Street near Downtown Carson City.
It’s been known for a while that the cottages contained asbestos; it’s one of the reasons cited why they couldn’t be safely rehabilitated into housing or other uses after they were officially closed as homes for children in 1992. They were used as office space for the Division of Child & Family Services until the early 2000s, at which point they were officially abandoned.
Since that time, they’ve fallen further into disrepair and were broken into often. However, the city found a use for them in line with many other abandoned buildings in town: training for firefighters, law enforcement and first responders.
Over the past few years, a large number of these events have taken place, including search and rescue operations, K9 training, and general fire setting and chainsawing among others.
The state announced the cottages — and apparently many of the original Cottonwood trees planted back in the 1800s — were slated for official demolition earlier this year to build new office spaces and parking garages for state employees and offices.
In a similar vein of hosting one last big bash before a resort closes for the season, or entering your 1979 Pontiac Firebird in a beginner’s demolition derby before it’s repossessed, a large scale, multi-agency last hurrah was planned at the site.
Fires, training and operations have been ongoing all week and will continue through Friday.
However, as smoke stacks began traveling across the city from the burn, questions began flooding in about asbestos contamination and safety.
The way asbestos works when it comes to fires, and why it’s so dangerous, is that it doesn’t not actually burn when set ablaze. Instead, the particles “shatter” into smaller and smaller forms, which are then carried off through smoke and wind.
The microscopic fibers can stay in the air for several days, or be carried miles away and settle in residential areas, waterways, or landscapes. Any disturbances can send the particles airborne again, which increases risks for inhalation and associated health risks.
However, according to acting Fire Chief Kevin Nyberg, there’s no cause for alarm: prior to any of the large scale burn and training operations, asbestos abatement occurred across the site.
“The State had the cottages abated of asbestos prior to burning via a contracted company,” Nyberg said.
While you should still stay away from the area due to smoke, construction and general debris concerns, the city assures residents that there is no cause for alarm as it pertains to asbestos fibers in the smoke.
