Emergency Declaration for Asbestos, Lead and Other Hazards Following Tustin Hangar Fire

Earlier this month, officials in Orange County declared a local emergency following a large fire at a hangar in Tustin, California. The World War 2 era hangar was built of wood and had been designated a Historical Landmark. It sadly was destroyed in the massive fire that spewed smoke and ash throughout the area.

Following the fire, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) reported it had collected and analyzed air and ash samples. Test results indicated the presence of asbestos, lead, arsenic and nickel. In response, local authorities have urged residents to:

• Avoid touching or disturbing the materials unless they have been properly trained to do so  
• Avoid touching fire debris/ash 
• Wear protective equipment (mask/gloves) if in an area where there is high risk of encountering asbestos 
• Remove shoes before entering a home 
• Keep windows closed on windy days to keep asbestos out 
• Spray patios with water instead of sweeping them
• Avoid using leaf blowers  
• Wash off ash from vehicles or outdoor toys or furniture 
• Wash ash off pets 

“Potential exposure hazards in this case were concerning enough that all schools in the Tustin Unified School District were temporarily closed, as were preschools, daycare centers and multiple parks,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Firefighters, fire investigators, law enforcement, cleanup crews, demolition contractors, construction professionals, and in this case, entire neighborhoods, could be at risk of exposure to hazardous substances following a fire. At CSC, our building science, industrial hygiene and environmental professionals provide testing, consulting and training services to identify and mitigate these types of risks.”

To learn more about this or other building science, industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail