Firefighters move out after asbestos found

Asbestos has been found at Invercargill’s main fire station.

Firefighters who would normally stay at the station overnight moved into a hotel, but the truck bay is still in use.

In the runup to window renovations, asbestos dust was found on the exterior wall and in the ceiling space.

Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) on Tuesday took swab samples from all bedrooms and expected the results back in the next couple of days. This was ‘‘to ensure that no asbestos dust has entered our bedrooms, although we believe this is highly unlikely, to help reassure any concerns,’’ it said yesterday.

Overnight crews would meantime stay at a hotel nearby.

The Professional Firefighters’ Union said Fenz reacted quickly to the find.

It is the second station to be partly shut down by asbestos discoveries. Auckland’s main station has had its firefighters out for a month as testing and cleanup work is carried out.

WorkSafe NZ has been at the Invercargill station. It had an asbestos survey completed, which identified asbestoscontaining material, and had a management plan in place, Fenz said.

Asbestos in solid form is usually no threat unless it is disturbed.