A Wellman man has been fined $10,000 for improperly demolishing and burning a building in February 2022. The building, located on a former lumberyard in West Chester, was found to contain asbestos, a harmful material when inhaled.

The fine was issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to Kevin Flynn. Flynn, who had not tested the building for asbestos prior to tearing it down, continued to do so after an initial warning from the DNR. He received numerous violations including improper water disposal, failure to submit a demolition notification, and improper handling of asbestos-containing debris.

Asbestos must be removed from a building prior to demolition, otherwise it has the potential to be released into the air. The fibers do not dissolve in water and are resistant to heat and fire. Flynn was ordered by the DNR to hire professionals to dispose of the remaining debris.