Residents near to the Daler Rowney fire site are being asked not to clean up any debris that may have fallen on their homes, in their gardens, or on their vehicles as a precaution.
Updated advice just received from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), states that there may be a low public health risk associated with the debris.
As the Daler Rowney building may have a cement roof containing asbestos, it is possible that these materials may have been released in the smoke plume and deposited in ash or debris on nearby properties and streets.
Therefore, residents in the immediate area of the Daler Rowney building off Peacock Lane are advised to leave all remaining debris and ash untouched at this time.
The updated advice was received this afternoon (Thursday, 28 May). It follows the council questioning the original advice provided earlier this week, after calls from residents informing us they had small amounts debris in their garden
The UKHSA states that the risks to health from such fires and debris are low and there is unlikely to be any significant exposure to asbestos following fires involving materials containing asbestos. There is no direct evidence of long-term health risks from fires involving asbestos containing materials, but it is sensible that any asbestos containing debris is removed to minimise any potential exposure.
As a precaution, and based on this updated information, the council will be visiting all properties within a 200m radius of the smoke plume tomorrow morning to assess what clean up by professionals may be needed and to provide general advice.
If residents do find ash or debris from the fire on their property, they are advised to leave it alone and call 01344 35000 so that the debris can recorded and be safely assessed and removed. Please do not use social media as reporting tool for any debris or concerns.
UKHSA advice states that if it is absolutely necessary to move or remove debris yourself, first damp down the debris using water, and either gently flush away small particles to the drain or, wearing protective gloves to prevent scratches, pick up larger pieces carefully, place them within two plastic bags (double bag with one bag inside the other), and seal and dispose of at the household waste recycling centre. Do not sweep up or vacuum debris as this could create airborne dust. If there is evidence of debris in the garden, you should avoid mowing the lawn until it has been cleared up and removed.
As a precautionary measure, residents near to the fire site are also advised, where possible, to keep children and pets away from any debris in gardens until a full and thorough clean-up has been carried out.
Further information
What are the health risks from this fire?
The fire at Daler Rowney caused a large smoke plume. If anybody came into contact with the smoke plume, this may have caused them to have had breathing difficulties, watery eyes, coughing and a sore throat. Individuals with asthma may have experienced some worsening of their condition. Anybody experiencing these symptoms should recover shortly after the exposure and there are unlikely to be any long-term health implications. During the fire, asbestos containing materials from building may have been released in the smoke plume. The health risks associated with this are covered in the following questions.
What is asbestos containing material?
In older buildings, asbestos was often used as a component of building materials, such as roofing panels, installation board and floor tiles. The building which caught fire had a roof that may contain a cement asbestos. When material contains a proportion of asbestos it is usually described as an asbestos containing material or ACM. The majority of asbestos fibres are held tightly within the asbestos containing material and are trapped within the cement
What are the health risks associated with asbestos containing material?
During the fire, visible fragments were carried in the smoke plume and may have been deposited on nearby properties, gardens and streets. As the majority of asbestos fibres are held tightly within the asbestos containing material, they are not released into the air and this minimises the health risk.
I have debris from the fire on my property, what should I do?
If you find ash and debris from the fire on your property, you are advised to leave it alone. Council staff will be visiting properties within a 200m range of the smoke plume on Friday, 29 May to assess the debris and what removal may be needed. If there is evidence of debris in the garden, you should avoid disturbing the material (for example, do not mow the lawn until it has been cleared up and removed). If you are not at home when council staff visit, they will post a letter through your door explaining how to get in contact for an assessment of the debris.
When I handled some debris which landed in my garden, I think I may have breathed in some dust. What should I do?
If you have breathed in dust, it is likely to be in a relatively small amount. This single short-term exposure should not significantly affect your health. Asbestos is present in small quantities in both urban and rural air in the UK and so we are all breathing in small amounts of asbestos fibres over our lifetimes. The amount you may have breathed in from this one fire is likely to be insignificant in comparison with our overall background exposure during the course of our lives.
If there is no risk from the debris, why do the decontamination teams wear full protective clothing?
The decontamination operation will be done by specially trained contractors. As there is the possibility they will be exposed to asbestos dust on more than one occasion during decontamination procedures, their total exposure can be much higher than that of members of the public. For this reason, they are required to wear protective equipment, such as dust masks and overalls, to minimise any potential intake of asbestos.
I have accidentally trodden on some asbestos containing material on my shoes and it is now in my carpet, what should I do?
The carpet will need to be cleaned by specialists. Do not attempt to sweep or vacuum up the debris as this will only create or spread any dust. Please advise council staff that visit your property of where the debris is. In addition, your house contents insurer may also be able to assist.
I have some dust and debris from the fire on my clothing, what should I do?
If the clothing was drying in the garden at the time of the fire then, as a precaution, the clothing should be washed in lukewarm water for at least 10-15 minutes to remove any trace of asbestos fibres.
For more information on asbestos visit: Asbestos - Frequently Asked Questions
photo credit Paul King
