Firefighters will burn mold-infested house in Ypsilanti Township

July 22, 2009

by Mulcahy | The Ann Arbor News

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 9:37 AM

The Ann Arbor News - MLive.com - Ann Arbor,MI,USA

dinf.html

Reynolds, The Ann Arbor News

This house at 2601 Verna Ave. in Ypsilanti Township will be burned down by

firefighters in August because it is infested with mold. 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.

Mulcahy can be reached at jmulcahy@... or 734-994-6858.

Recommended Posts