South of the site, the boardwalk is shut down, and a gravel path is for passersby on the left. All photos by Blogfinger.net © June 14, 2019. Click on images to make larger.
This shows the new access from the North End lot across the boardwalk (minus boards) and onto the beach. Note the hazmat suits. © Blogfinger.net
Guards physically prevent anyone from stepping onto the work area. © 2 large shovels agitate the toxic piles. Blogfinger.net
A sign on the fence makes reference to NJ Asbestos Work. Blogfinger.net.
Friday, June 14, 2019. Ocean Grove fire site at the North End:
Two large power shovels are at work moving the debris around and dumping some of it into a dumpster. Undoubtedly that agitation is sending debris particles and dust into the air.
The boardwalk there is closed, and a cinder path, about 20 yards back, is available for bikers, walkers, runners, strollers to go by, back and forth.
Men in white hazmat suits are milling about on the site, and several guards are preventing anyone from going closer than the boardwalk. No workers that I could see are wearing masks.
Boards have been removed from the boardwalk, leaving a sandy access path from the North End dirt lot onto the beach.
There is a sign on the fence which says: ASBESTOS. NJ STATE….. (see photo above)
It is likely that the building wreckage does contain asbestos and probably other toxins as well. Why are the Neptune and/or State health authorities not offering warnings as well as instructions for the public? Should anybody be walking by that site? Do you want your kids biking over there? Today was especially windy.
Workers at or near the 9-11 site were wearing respirators, and we all know about the long-term health consequences of that wreckage.
So far it seems that about 40% of the debris has actually been moved elsewhere, although I wasn’t there all day. I did see two huge dump trucks. Maybe they will be finished within a few days. Then we will observe what happens next.
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor @Blogfinger.