Two publicly owned buildings used for Hillsboro Fire & Rescue training were found to have contained asbestos in the floors and walls. Now, according to Melanie Mesaros, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Hillsboro fire department is being investigated for as yet undisclosed reasons.
The fire department sets controlled fires in the two buildings for training purposes. The city has previously discovered asbestos at the site, which will eventually be used for additional parking for a nearby library and the Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center.
The president of the Hillsboro firefighters’ union, Eric Keim, explained that the fire department had notified OSHA about the asbestos upon its discovery. “We take the health and safety of our members seriously,” he said. An employee of the fire department, having worked with asbestos before, recognized the hazardous substance and had recommended additional inspections.
“We do not believe that the [fire department’s training] activities at the site constituted a risk to public health,” city spokesman Patrick Preston said. Aside from the fact that the case opened October 1, OSHA has released no information about its investigation into the fire department, but it’s possible the agency is doing a compliance check to ensure the firefighters are adequately trained to deal with asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can be detrimental to respiratory health and is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a preventable type of cancer with a high mortality rate.
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