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Asbestos and Fires

Asbestos that is exposed to fire or extreme heat can become brittle and breakable, or friable. Apart from age, which can turn asbestos from a safely encased substance into a dangerous and exposed one, fire is a threat to public health well beyond what damage flames and heat can produce.

In the cast of asbestos fibers, fire increases the likelihood that they will be released into the air. Once airborne, these tiny fibers are able to be inhaled or ingested by residents, emergency workers or cleanup workers, laying the groundwork for asbestosis or mesothelioma cancer.

History of Asbestos and Fire

Asbestos is one of the most heat-resistant substances known to man, yet it can be highly toxic when it is confronted by fire. The seemly magical ability of the material not to burn was displayed by the Roman Emperor Charlemagne (800-814), who used an asbestos tablecloth to convince some barbarian guests that he had supernatural powers. After the banquet he would throw the tablecloth into the fire and leave it for a while to burn off all of the food scraps and then snatch it from the flames to show everyone that it was not burned and clean.

Centuries later in a more modern world, asbestos curtains were used in theaters to separate the audience from the stage and could be quickly lowered to contain a fire on the stage. For example, the historic Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago in 1903, quickly spread out of control when the asbestos curtain became hung up on the stage lights and could not be lowered. Many of the projection booths in theaters were also treated with the fireproof material to contain any fire resulting from the highly combustible nitrocellulose film that was used through the 1930s. Asbestos shields were placed under furnaces and stoves to protect wooden floors while asbestos roofs and ceilings prevented the spread of chimney and roof fires.

For a great part of the 19th century and most of the 20th century, products made with asbestos or with some asbestos products were used to keep houses, ships, buildings, pipes and other things from getting too hot and from catching fire. But when structures did catch fire, those products were exposed in various ways, leading to toxic contamination. Smoke also carries contaminants.

Smoke Inhalation

Smoke from debris piles is made up of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter, hydrocarbons and other organic and non-organic substances. Smoke can contain toxins, including minute asbestos fibers, particularly when hazardous materials are burned. Materials of particular concern related to asbestos are insulation, roof materials, drywall, ceiling tiles, flooring and asphalt.

To limit exposure to hazardous materials, the Centers for Disease Control recommends individuals remain at least 1,000 feet away from burning debris piles and wear appropriate protective clothing. Most protective equipment that firefighters use will eliminate the exposure to the fibers but in the secondary stages of the fire, firefighters may remove the protective gear for greater comfort and not realize that there may be high asbestos levels present. 

Fires and Asbestos Debris

Fires leave a residue of ashes, half-burned materials and unburned materials that are otherwise destroyed or ruined. This debris is almost always removed from a fire site, and sometimes it contains dangerous asbestos. Only if a fire site is examined specifically for the existence of asbestos can cleanup workers be assured that none of the mineral is present. Three fires in California serve as examples.

Malibu Fire Asbestos

In Malibu, California, a coastal community hit hard by fires in 1993, 268 houses were destroyed. Most burned to their foundations. The city gave property owners six weeks to remove debris and then began removing remaining household debris. In clearing fire debris, the city collected the same amount of solid waste normally collected in an entire year. Later, the California State License Board widely acknowledged that homes constructed between 1930 and 1950 may have contained asbestos in the following areas:

• Transite shingles and siding
• Dry insulation material used to insulate attic
• Acoustic ceiling material
• Taping compounds and plaster
• Cement logs and artificial ash in fireplaces
• Aircell and sheeting ductwork insulation
• Block insulation
• Aircell pads inside furnaces
• Taping on furnace return seams
• Roofing felt
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Wire and fuse-boxes insulation
• Taping inside of registers
• Linoleum backing
• Pipe lagging and elbow mud
• Heater door gaskets
• Fabric vibration insulation joints

During this type of massive cleanup, homeowners and business owners sometimes handle asbestos-containing materials. While this work may legally performed by homeowners, they are typically not skilled in identifying asbestos-containing materials and are often unaware of proper removal methods. As a result, cleanup operations may create an accumulation of asbestos-containing waste in local landfills, creating a hazardous site that can impact even more people. Many communities have recognized the potential of fire asbestos-contaminated debris affecting the local environment.

Asbestos from Planters Hotel Fire

On March 7, 2007, the 80-year-old Planters Hotel in Brawley, California, was demolished in an arson fire. The city of Brawley put two streets adjacent to the once-historic, four-story hotel off limits to the public. Residents raised concerns if the structure contained asbestos and about possible health effects. An experienced California contractor later stated that the building did contain asbestos and lead and projected abatement costs at more than $800,000.

Army Medical Depot Fire

On March 29, 2009, the former Army Medical Depot Hospital in Alameda, California, caught fire and burned for 19 hours. Residents later reported finding fire residue in their yards, on their vehicles and in the streets. They inquired whether the residue contained lead, asbestos, or other hazardous material. Alameda city officials determined the hospital had been contaminated with asbestos, and the city's redevelopment agency is spending more $1 million to clean up the burned-down facility.

Get Your Books about Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos abatement is one of many topics that are covered in free books available through the Mesothelioma Center. The books also outline mesothelioma and doctors and hospitals who specialize in treating the rare cancer. Pick out the book you want and have it mailed to you.

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