FILE: A fire at an abandoned Kmart in Northeast Portland, Ore., sends up a large plume of smoke on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue
State public health officials are warning people to avoid stirring up the charred debris that has fallen in East Portland after Wednesday’s fire in a vacant Kmart building.
Some debris that fell in a Northeast Portland park has tested positive for asbestos, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Officials there said they’ve found debris and heavy dust from the fire in Luuwit View Park, on Parkrose School District property, and in area yards.
According to DEQ, asbestos can cause cancer and lung issues in people with long term exposure, but it’s also relatively common in the environment. Most people are exposed to some asbestos over the course of their lives and few have health problems from it.
The debris will look like ash, paper, or chunks, and easily crumbles into fibers that can be inhaled. People can protect themselves by avoiding it and keeping kids and pets away too.
People with ash in their yards can gently soak it with water to keep it from becoming airborne; do not try to power wash, vacuum, or sweep it up.
DEQ officials said the agency is conducting an assessment Friday to “better understand the spread of the contamination and next steps in the cleanup process.”
The city of Portland has closed Luuwit View Park and asked the Parkrose School District to hold its summer activities indoors.
The fire consumed a 120,000-square-foot building, long vacant and formerly a Kmart, sending a black plume of smoke over the Argay Terrace and Parkrose neighborhoods. Residents were told to shelter in place and close their windows to keep out toxic smoke.
No one was injured by the fire, and Portland Fire and Rescue is investigating its cause.
Below is the full list of safety tips DEQ has shared:
• If possible, avoid areas that have ash or debris.
• If you are in area with ash or debris, avoid contact with any debris that may contain asbestos. Debris will look like ash, paper, or chunks, and easily crumbles into fibers that can be inhaled. Do not touch, pick up, move, sweep, or vacuum any ash or debris that may have come from the fire.
• Keep children and pets away from ash and debris.
• Do not mow the grass or work in the garden if the area was potentially exposed.
• Gently soak ash and debris with water. This will keep it from becoming airborne; do not power wash.