In the city of Auckland, New Zealand, officials and ordinary citizens have become concerned about the possible health risks associated with a recent fire at a West Auckland business.

The commercial building caught fire early Monday morning. Now New Zealanders are worried that asbestos that was present in the building may have become airborne during the blaze, possibly endangering lives of many neighbors and firefighters.

Asbestos has been known to become airborne during fires with alarming ease. Once airborne, the toxic, deadly fibers can then travel on the wind currents to neighboring homes and businesses. Airborne asbestos particles can be easily inhaled by a human, where the fibers then become permanently lodged in the soft tissues of the body.

One health risk posed by these airborne fibers is mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer. Mesothelioma has been known to affect the soft tissues of the abdomen, heart, and lungs. There is no cure for the disease, which has been known to kill victims within months of diagnosis.

The first calls regarding the fire at the West Auckland business were taken by the New Zealand Fire Service around 7 am Monday morning. Callers told dispatchers that smokes and flames were clearly visible at that time. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but is being investigated by fire fighters.

According to Fire Service shift manager Steve Smith, Fire Safety will continue to investigate the cause of the blaze. In addition, because there are known problems with asbestos in the building, Health and Safety staff will also inspect the site to catalog the possible asbestos-related risks associated with the fire.

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