ZANESVILLE — Materials from the Zanesville Masonic Temple have been sent to the Ohio EPA for asbestos testing, Zanesville Mayor Don Mason said. The building was destroyed by fire two weeks ago and demolition of the remaining portion started on Friday.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral once used in a variety of building materials, including insulation and roofing. When particles are disturbed and made airborne, they can be inhaled, which can cause a variety of cancers, according to the EPA. The Clean Air Act of 1970 classified asbestos as an air pollutant, and the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule of 1989 partially banned the manufacture and use of products that contain asbestos.
See: Masonic Temple demolition edging toward completion after devastating fire
“Whenever there is a fire, there is a lot of conversation to be had at all the regulatory agencies,” the city’s Public Service Director Scott Brown said. “One of the conversations is whether there was ever an asbestos inspection or abatement plan put together for the structure.”
If an abatement plan has been found and completed, asbestos is no longer an issue. But if an asbestos inspection or abatement plan can’t be found, “it has to be assumed that (the building) has asbestos,” Brown said.
“The lack of documented history means the EPA almost starts with the presumption there is asbestos unless you can prove there is not,” Mason said.
A fire would cause the asbestos to be released and spread across the debris.
The testing will determine the amount of asbestos and if the debris needs to be disposed of as RACM, or regulated asbestos containing material, Mason said.
Once the site was made safe to collect a sample, the Ohio EPA collected samples from the site and sent them to a lab for testing, EPA Media Coordinator Anthony Chenault said. The EPA is working with the demolition and asbestos contractors “to ensure proper procedures are being followed to comply with Ohio’s rules for demolition and removal following a fire.”
According to the building’s demolition order filed with the Mid-East Ohio Building Department, the Ohio EPA considered the building “an asbestos hotspot and the demolition plan must account for this.”
The demolition order was issued on Jan. 13 and, after delays while steps were taken to ensure the safety of underground utilities, demolition commenced the next day. According to the order, demolition is expected to cost $450,000.
See: Masonic Temple fire: How you can donate; how tenants can seek help
The city’s Public Safety Director Doug Merry said the ZPD has gotten a lot of complaints about people putting themselves in harm’s while during demolition by getting too close to the building. “They could be hit with a brick or piece of steel and severely injured,” he said. The city was told to treat the site as if it was contaminated with asbestos, Merry said.
In addition, the building is still private property, and anyone removing items from the site is committing theft, Merry said.
People inside the taped-off area around the building exposes themselves to injury or arrest for theft of trespassing, Merry said, “Maybe all three. We don’t want to arrrest people, but they cannot be going into the work site.”
A message from the Brethren of The Lodge of Amity #5
Despite losing our beloved Masonic Temple to fire on January 6, 2022, the Lodge of Amity #5 Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio is standing strong. Founded in Zanesville in 1805, we have met continuously over the last 217 years. Our Lodge first met on the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple on June 26, 1903, and our last stated meeting was held there on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, just 22 days before the fire.
Though the fire may have taken our building and relics spanning the last 217 years, it did not take our spirit. The Lodge of Amity #5 would like for everyone to know that we are still here and will continue to be part of the Zanesville community. While we continue to recover from this loss and evaluate our future we will meet at LaFayette Lodge #79 located at 3867 Northpointe Drive. Our meetings will continue to be at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
If you would like to reach out to us to give support or make inquiries please send communication or donations to: The Lodge of Amity #5, P.O. Box 542, Zanesville, or email [email protected].
740-868-3708
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