Many structure fires in Libby involve asbestos-contaminated materials, requiring firefighters to clean their equipment after each call.
Libby’s history with asbestos is well-known, but the connection between the two continues to this day in often hidden ways. Many of the structure fires that ignite in Libby involve asbestos-contaminated materials, posing a significant health risk to first responders with the Libby Volunteer Fire Department. After each blaze, firefighters must clean the asbestos contamination—as well as many other hazardous carcinogens—off their gear, a process that can take three to four hours for each set. The trouble is, fires don’t wait. In December 2022 alone, the Libby Volunteer Fire Department received 15 calls that were back-to-back, putting the health and safety of both firefighters and residents at risk. One Libby resident brought the problem to LOR, who worked with the fire department to purchase nine additional sets of National Fire Protection Agency-compliant jackets and pants. “It’s critical for these members that we keep them safe,” says Steve Lauer, chief of the Libby Volunteer Fire Department. “Being a volunteer department is a lot to ask.” Watch the video below to learn how LOR’s support is helping Libby’s first responders stay safe and ready.
Filmed by Jordan LeCount and edited by Kirk Rasmussen, Topographic Media.
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