Asbestos discovery delays demolition of LDS Church destroyed by fire
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SWAN VALLEY — Crews have discovered asbestos in the rubble of a burned down Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building, meaning construction of a new building will be delayed until the material can be safely removed.
Local church officials announced plans to rebuild the meetinghouse earlier this week after it burned to the ground last December. While no date has been set for the construction, leaders tell EastIdahoNews.com planning for the new building has already started.
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The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has a strict set of rules regulating how asbestos is handled. Demolition of the old building cannot start until the asbestos is appropriately removed.
“Contractors are currently working with the DEQ … to secure the appropriate permits to start removing the asbestos,” Swan Valley City Clerk Daniel Jose tells EastIdahoNews.com.
The Palisades LDS Ward building, built in 1949, was destroyed by the blaze on Dec. 6. Since the fire, church members have held meetings in Swan Valley Elementary School. The next closest LDS meetinghouse is about 30 miles away in Ririe.
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Church leaders had hoped to begin construction on the new building within weeks but the asbestos discovery will likely postpone the timeline.
“The new church will feature a different type of layout, different from what would be considered a typical LDS church,” local LDS spokeswoman Sharon Parry told EastIdahoNews.com. “We have a smaller congregation, so there isn’t a need for as many classrooms and offices.”
When disturbed, asbestos can become an air toxin, releasing fibers which can be inhaled or ingested, according to the DEQ. The fibers can remain in the lungs for a long time, increasing the risk of disease.
Investigators have not announced the cause of the fire but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious.