On September 30, 2024, EPA mobilized to the Illinois Cabinet Company site to start the removal of asbestos contaminated debris and structurally unstable buildings that are at the result of a fire and building material salvaging. During removal, water will be sprayed on debris to provide dust suppression and air monitoring will be conducted to help ensure that asbestos fibers do not migrate off-site.
The Illinois Cabinet Company was a large industry on Rockford's southeast side that operated from 1906 until 1973 creating wooden furniture. Since then, the Site has been primarily used as a storage
warehouse for a variety of companies and then sat mostly vacant. In September 2023, the current owner of the Site signed a contract with a contractor to salvage building materials. Sometime after signing the
contract, scrapping of building materials commenced without an asbestos
inspection, abatement permit, or demolition permit.
The City of Rockford Building Department
became aware of demolition work in the building sometime in December 2023. Before
it could inspect the Site or issue a stop-work permit, a large fire broke out in
the five-story western portion of the Site on the evening of December 15. The
fire caused significant damage and collapsed approximately half of the site into a pile of rubble and debris about 1.6 acres in size. Investigation into
the cause of the fire is still ongoing and arson has not been ruled out.
Following the fire, the City inspected the remaining structure and identified suspected ACM debris. The mayor of Rockford then
submitted a letter on February 22, 2024 to the EPA requesting a removal
assessment and possible removal action.
EPA conducted a removal site evaluation on June 11, 2024 which confirmed the presence of uncontained friable ACM debris in the exterior piles of rubble and inside the remaining structures. A limited structural assessment conducted during the evaluation identified that damage from the fire and building material salvage has left the remaining buildings as structurally unstable and at risk of collapse. During the evaluation, evidence of trespassing and vandalism was also identified. The evaluation concluded that there is a risk of ACM migrating off-site from a building collapse, weather, or by trespassers.
The Site is located in a mixed residential and
commercial area on the southeast side of Rockford. Several single-family homes
are located across Harrison Avenue approximately 400 feet south of the Site. Just
50 feet immediately north of the Site is Collins Aerospace, one of Rockford’s
largest employers.
