A portion of a warehouse owned by a non-profit organization REA, Inc., burned to the ground on Monday, November 21, 2011. Upon the fire being extinguished and cooling off enough to investigate, various suspected asbestos containing materials were identified. A representative from Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry performed a visual assessment and confirmed numerous sources of friable asbestos.
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VADEM) requested EPA OSC assistance in assessing the extent of the suspected contamination.
The building was originally erected in the early 1900's (estimated 1920s) and has been added on throughout the years. It is primarily a brick structure with some metal components. The suspected asbestos materials are within roofing, insulation, and pipe wrap. The portion that collapsed is and estimated several hundred feet long and a few hundred feet wide.
