NJ School Closes Due to Asbestos

Article Added May 13th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

After smoked caused an evacuation, officials conducted an air quality test of a Cresskill school due to possible asbestos exposure. Though the tests were precautionary, the school may stay closed through the week.

The Merritt Memorial School may be closed all week until air-quality test results are available. The Cresskill city school was closed after a fire evacuation, which brought fire rescue out. A small fire was detected under the school gym were demolition was taking place as part of a renovation project. Borough police clarified the exposure after officials initially announced that asbestos had not been disturbed.

An old steam pipe was being cut out with a torch shortly before lunch time when the fiberglass insulation began to smoke. Most of the smoke detectors had been covered in the area, due to expected smoke from some of the torches during the pipe cutting. A hidden detector was set off, and fire fighters were called. During that time, the fire hose knocked into one of the pipes, exposing the asbestos. Since the school had been evacuated after the alarm, no students or faculty were exposed to the fibrous material. Parents were notified in letters brought home by students of the incident and stressed that the possibility of student exposure was low.

Article Added May 13th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story