News - Local
Cleanup restarts at site of massive Pueblo fire
Posted: Jan 12, 2010 7:41 PM by David Ortiviz
Updated: Jan 12, 2010 7:41 PM
Clean-up work has started once again in Pueblo, where an old cold storage building burned to the ground. The fire happened in Oct. 2007 at the corner of 6th and Elizabeth. Pueblo County has spent millions of dollars to clean up the site, which still contains materials contaminated with asbestos.
"It does get tiresome looking at the piles of dirt and a lot of bureaucracy that goes on," said Lee Gladney, a nearby merchant.
Gladney also says several nearby business owners are concerned about the health risk. "Our health concerns were raised when they said it was asbestos and the fences went up and the guys in the moon suits came out," said Gladney.
As a matter of public health, the Pueblo City-County Health Department says at a minimum all debris and building materials at the site must constantly be sprayed with water. "As long as the contractor is following this plan, risk to the public should be minimal. During the times we have inspected there, we saw that the contractors were following the plan," said Heather Maio, Director of Public Health at the Pueblo City-County Health Department.
Pueblo County commissioner Jeff Chostner says the county has spent $6 million so far to clean up the site. So how much longer will clean-up last? How much more money will be spent? News First 5 Reporter David Ortiviz finds out Tonight on News First 5 at 6 p.m.
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