Half a million dollars worth of damage has been caused at a unit complex in Australia. In addition to the financial damage caused, it has also been confirmed that the unit most probably contained asbestos, which adds the risk of asbestos contamination in the area.
Fire fighters were called out to tackle the blaze, and a spokesperson stated: “Fire severely damaged four weatherboard units in a block of ten.” The spokesperson added that it was very likely that the units contained asbestos, stating: "The potential for asbestos exposure was identified and appropriate decontamination procedures were instigated."
Asbestos is a potentially deadly substance, and when dust and fibers from this material become airborne, they can cause a range of health problems including a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma.
Nobody was injured during the blaze earlier this week, authorities confirmed.