Firefighters Concerned About Asbestos Exposure

The city of New Haven and fire union officials are reportedly concerned that firefighters were exposed to asbestos while fighting a fire in a department store.

Earlier this month 60 firefighters may have been exposed to the asbestos while attempting to contain a fire that occurred at Kresge department store.

Asbestos Exposure During Fire

According to reports, two of a dozen samples of debris from the store that were sent to the Department of Public Health tested positive for asbestos.

The firefighters are now concerned that they were exposed to asbestos since they were in the building for several hours.

“Certainly, there’s always a concern in a fire in an old building with the fire department,” explains Andy Rizzo, the head of New Haven’s Livable City Initiative.

Keeping an Eye on the Firefighters Health

Rick Scavetta, a spokesman for the Hospital of Saint Raphael claims that several of the firefighters were checked after the fire.

Patrick Egan, who is a firefighter and the union’s president, says that the union may file a blanket claim.

The blanket claim would put the possible exposure on record to monitor any future illnesses.

(Source: Newsday)

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