Asbestos removed from former Veronica Apartments building destroyed in fire

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The company responsible for removing asbestos at the former Veronica Apartments has reassured neighbours that the hazardous material was not left dangerous and untreated while the demolition site was cleared up. 

The apartment complex was torn down on June 18th after the building was destroyed in a fire that left the building in an unlivable state.

Energeticcity.ca received concerns about asbestos material being left on site and the possible damage it may have to Fort St. John residents.

According to Worksafe BC, asbestos is a building material widely used until the 1990s. It is dangerous if inhaled, causing mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer decades after exposure.

Steven Haab, owner of Haab Ventures, said the remaining debris is being removed from the property on July 3rd and the building was too dangerous to enter and needed to be taken down.

“We have maybe 20 bags left of loose debris that we’re bagging up this afternoon,” said Haab. 

In order to prevent the material from causing damage to residents after the building’s deconstruction, Haab said his team sprayed the structure with water mixed with surfactant. 

“It allows the water to glom on to the asbestos fiber and keep it on the ground,” Haab explained. 

The material was taken to the North Peace Regional Landfill in Charlie Lake, which is run by the Peace River Regional District (PRRD). 

Haab said the removal process was extended over two weeks due to the landfill only accepting a certain amount of asbestos material each day. 

He said his company could only transport two bins of material a day, equal to 60 yards of waste, to make sure the landfill was not “overwhelmed.” 

Haab praised his team for an “excellent” job in the project and expects all work to be completed in another two weeks.