by John Mulcahy | The Ann Arbor News
Wednesday July 22, 2009
Ypsilanti Township firefighters will burn a vacant house on Verna Avenue because it is infested with mold and would be unsafe to demolish by tearing it down, a township official said.
“We’ve been advised by the experts that the only safe way to abate the mold is to burn it,” said Mike Radzik, head of the township’s Office of Community Standards.
The burn, which had been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, now may be done in early August, Radzik said.
The last known occupant of the home at 2601 Verna Ave. died about four years ago, though the home may have been occupied at some time since then, Radzik said. Though the deceased occupant’s estate still hasn’t cleared probate court, the heir is cooperating with the township to get rid of the house, Radzik said.
A wall of plywood treated with fire retardant has been erected between the house and a neighboring home to prevent the fire from spreading, Radzik said.
When the burn occurs, the nearest side of the neighboring home will be covered with a tarp, which will be kept wet during the burn to protect the house, Radzik said.
Tearing down the infested home the usual way would release unsafe levels of mold spores into the air, Radzik said. At present, the lower part of the home is boarded up, and the top is encapsulated in a type of insulation to keep the mold inside, he said.
“The air outside the home is OK right now,” Radzik said.
Some asbestos also is being removed from the home, Radzik said. A rough estimate of the total cost for demolishing the home would be $20,000, he said. The township will put a lien on the property and may eventually be able to recover some of the cost, Radzik said.
The goal will be to burn the home into its foundation and clean up the ashes after they cool, Radzik said. The mold will be destroyed immediately by the fire, he said.
Note – Cleaning and remediation Procedures from the Navy Mold Guide – pdf
Building Structure – Residential buildings generally have more
wood (framing) than commercial buildings. Commercial building may have
steel support structures that are less likely to support mold growth
and are usually easier to clean if they become contaminated.
Extent of contamination – Small areas of visible mold growth can
be cleaned quickly and easily. At the other extreme, buildings with
extensive contamination may need to be demolished down to the
structural framing for successful remediation.
Katy's Exposure 