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Auckland residents say they were left in the dark after a school fire spread asbestos through their neighborhood.
The fire broke out in a technology block at Ponsonby Middle School on December 8. The council later said there were no risks to the neighborhood as the burned building had been cordoned off.
But the next day, residents of nearby Sheehan St received letters from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS), telling them to leave their homes.
“Asbestos has been determined to be present on the roof of the fire-affected building and that the fire spread some fragments of the roofing material to neighboring Sheehan [St] property, including his, ”the letter said.
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“Rest assured, while asbestos is known to have detrimental health effects, this occurs only after high levels of exposure over long periods of time.
RICKY WILSON / Stuff
The school building damaged after the fire, which is not being treated as a suspect.
“As this was a unique incident and the asbestos fibers are contained in the roofing material, we consider the risk to public health to be low.
“However, we recommend that you follow the advice provided today to find alternative accommodation while your property is being remedied.
“It is especially important that children and pets stay away from affected areas.”
No date was given when the residents would be able to return and there has been no guidance or correspondence with any government agency since then, said Emily Kendall, a resident of Sheehan St.
Her neighbors on both sides have left because they have young children, but her insurance won’t cover alternative accommodation costs, so she has no choice but to stay at home, she said.
“There has been no contact since that letter or any help that was offered to us to make our properties safe again.”
His driveway and yard remain covered in ash and debris, and he had already spent $ 800 cleaning the exterior of his home and car, he said.
“An asbestos expert has told me that what I have done is not enough. He said that all properties on the street must be decontaminated simultaneously so there is no cross contamination.
“We just don’t know what to believe or what we should be doing, it’s confusing and alarming.”
ACT MP Simon Court said it appeared as if both the central and local governments were “trying to wash their hands” of the responsibility of who should clean up the asbestos.
Auckland Council Environmental Health Officer sent to speak to residents [on Wednesday] He advised them that no one would do the cleaning, which was a matter for them to negotiate with their private insurers.
RICKY WILSON / Stuff
Firefighters inside the damaged school building were wearing protective gear.
“These people have been evicted from their homes for health advice a week before Christmas.”
A spokeswoman for the Auckland Council said Wednesday that the council was working with ARPHS and the Ministry of Education to resolve problems caused by the fire.
“Council Environmental Health Officers and ARPHS Health Protection Officers are today checking homes where residents were advised to go out.”
The school building had now been removed, the spokeswoman said, and debris from the street and walkways had been removed. The road had also been cleared.
Ryan Anderson / Stuff
Firefighters at the scene were hosed down after entering the damaged building.
ARPHS Medical Health Officer Dr. Denise Barnfather said that while asbestos was known to have harmful health effects, it was only produced after high-level exposure over long periods of time.
“The risk to the people in the neighborhood remains low.”
People concerned about contamination on their property have been told to call Auckland City Council on 09 301 0101.
Anyone with public health concerns can contact ARPHS at 09 623 4600.
