Visitors to the Rainbow Springs State Park near Central Florida’s Gulf Coast won’t be able to take advantage of the park’s visitor center or gift shop for the remainder of the high season because a January fire damaged asbestos-containing tiles, flooring, and other materials, making it unsafe to re-open until a full clean-up is complete.

According to an article in the Ocala StarBanner, the discovery of asbestos in ceiling and flooring material means it will be at least several more months until the popular visitor center and accompanying gift shop/concession area can open its doors once again, depriving the park of funds they might otherwise glean from the sale of small souvenir items and food.

Rainbow Springs State Park is a popular destination for nature lovers in the area, including both locals and visitors. The park provides an opportunity to view a variety of birds and wildlife and there’s a 2-mile nature trail that gives visitors an up-close look at the ecosystem of the Central Florida coastal area.

The fire was started by a heat lamp used to keep a rare indigo snake warm during the chilly winter months. Though the fire did relatively little damage, firefighters report that the sprinkler system tripped by the smoke and flames soaked the ceiling and floor, causing damage to the asbestos-containing tiles inside the facility.

Now, said Jessica Sims, a spokeswoman for the Florida Park Service, it’ll take months to prepare the building for removal of the old asbestos material and for the actual removal of the tiles. “Removal will entail removing ceiling tiles, portions of flooring treatment and debris from the water and fire damage, and giving the building’s interior a thorough cleaning and wipe-down. Also, HVAC filters replacement and system cleaning,” Sims reported.

Sims also reports that a contamination inspection has been completed and that park officials are waiting for permission to go in and remove all contents from the structure, which was built in 1968, an era during which asbestos use was commonplace. Sims has assured the general public that there is no risk of asbestos exposure outside of the facility. Florida, she notes, has strict asbestos abatement and management laws and precautions will be in place at all times to prevent any asbestos inside from reaching the outside.

Asbestos, when inhaled, can cause cancer to form, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lungs. Even casual exposure to the toxic material can be of concern, though the park service maintains that all precautions have been taken from the start to insure there has been no exposure.

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