Public Asked to Help Identify Locations of Debris from Belmont Avenue Fire
For Immediate Release
September 6, 2013
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marion County Public Health Department is seeking help from residents to identify properties that still have debris from a large warehouse fire at 220 S. Belmont Ave. on June 15. Heath department officials determined that much of the debris found in nearby neighborhoods contained asbestos, resulting in a Notice of Violation being issued to the owner of the warehouse.
As part of the violation, the owner has hired a contractor to identify and clean areas most affected by falling debris from the fire. A 22-square-mile area located directly around and to the northeast of the fire site is the focus of this clean-up effort.
The Marion County Public Health Department is asking residents to call a special phone number, 317-221-2159, to report if they have debris from the fire on their property. The contractor hired by the property owner will begin its work next week.
As residents do yard work, such as mowing or raking leaves, disturbing any of the asbestos debris could increase the risk of exposure.
“We want to make sure, to the best of everyone’s ability, that asbestos-containing debris is picked up,” said Dana Reed Wise, Bureau Chief of Environmental Health, Marion County Public Health Department. “This will help reduce the public’s unnecessary exposure to asbestos.”
A map of the neighborhoods most affected by the fire debris and pictures of the debris are available online at www.mchd.com .
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Media Contact:
Curt Brantingham
Media/Public Information Coordinator
317-221-2316 (o) │ 317-525-7450 (c)
