Low risk to public from Onehunga fire

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) was involved in a response on 8th and 9th of December to advise on safety precautions and manage any risk to public health following a fire in Mitre 10, Onehunga.

ARPHS has been working closely with the emergency services and regulatory agencies to effectively reduce any health risk to the public and business in the area. ARPHS identified the main potential risk to public health may arise from asbestos residues forming into dust.

“Due to prompt clean-up action, and wind direction at the time of the fire, the risk from asbestos residues is low,” said Dr Denise Barnfather, ARPHS medical officer of health. The wind carried airborne residues away from the township and rain prevented further asbestos dust forming.

Emergency services have worked together effectively to minimise risk, and this collaborative effort has shown the value of the planning and work being done between emergency response services in the Auckland region.

Facts about asbestos can be found at:
http://www.healthed.govt.nz/resources/allaboutasbestos.aspx

Asbestos is dangerous in dust form. Houses and buildings built before 1989 often contain asbestos and this can present a risk to health when materials containing asbestos break down and expose asbestos fibres. These fibres may then be inhaled and may cause lung disease in the future.

For more information contact:

Sally Young
Communications Manager ARPHS
Phone: 09 623 4600 ext 27135
Mobile: 021 938 431