Nearly 150 firefighters may have been exposed to asbestos, fire agencies say

In September 2024, officials confirmed that nearly 150 firefighters from Snohomish County may have been exposed to asbestos during a live fire training exercise in April. The training involved controlled burns of two houses, initially believed to be free of asbestos. However, subsequent testing revealed contamination in deeper building materials. A task force determined there is no risk to the public, but minimal exposure risk exists for the firefighters. A Joint Safety Committee has been established to investigate the incident and propose recommendations for future training protocols.

The committee emphasizes the importance of safety for both firefighters and the community, aiming to utilize insights from the upcoming report, expected next month, to improve safety measures. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of asbestos exposure in older buildings, particularly for first responders during training activities.