Asbestos found at Portland blast site

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found asbestos at the blast site after natural gas sparked an explosion in northwest Portland.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports ( http://bit.ly/2eC57lK ) that department spokesman Matthew Van Sickle said tests done Thursday discovered asbestos among the rubble of a 101-year-old building. Roofing felt was found that contained 35 percent of the dangerous fibrous material.

The department will be spraying foam on the debris and monitoring air quality on a daily basis, but he said there is no public safety concern at the site.

The explosion hurt eight people Wednesday morning, demolished a three-story historic building and ignited a fire that sent a plume of smoke over the city. Three firefighters, two police officers and three civilians were injured.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com