Kenneth Cutler, Sierra County Health Officer Elizabeth Morgan, Director of Environmental Health Re: Site Security and Assessment of Loyalton Hotel Burn Site Dear Kenneth Cutler and Elizabeth Morgan: This letter is a response to your letter requesting the City fence the public sidewalk in front of the hotel burn site and retain a Certified Asbestos Consultant to determine if the ash and debris is hazardous waste. The City retained Asbestos Science Technologies, Inc. The attached report states that all samples taken on the public sidewalk came back containing no asbestos. The samples were analyzed using Polarized Light Microscopy as required under EPA guidelines. The City was notified that the property owners also requested that the hotel burn site on their lot be tested. The City has received a copy of a second report by Asbestos Science Technologies that states all samples taken on the hotel burn lot came back containing no asbestos. Your letter contains several factual inaccuracies. You assume the age of the hotel building is all the same. While the original structure was constructed in the 1920’s, the hotel was partially remodeled with a new porch across the front extending into the City’s sidewalk between 2000 and 2005. The ash and debris on the public sidewalk in front of the hotel burn site is from the new porch and would not contain hazardous materials. The fire was so hot that the porch fiberglass shingles melted and stuck to the City sidewalk. Your letter also alleges the demolition of the hotel building occurred after the fire. This is not correct. The building demolition occurred during the fire. After initial fire suppression, the 17,000 square foot concrete and wood structure was deemed unsafe for entry by firefighters to complete fire extinguishment and overhaul due to the possible collapse of the burned out walls. An additional safety concern was the possibility of firefighter falling into hidden void spaces under the hotel containing burning material. Acting to protect the safety of the firefighters and the safety of the public, the Loyalton Fire Chief made a brilliant decision to extinguish the fire during the overhaul phase using heavy equipment. I, as City Mayor concurred in this decision. The entire city is proud of our Volunteer Fire Department saving downtown Loyalton. A retired Reno fireman said that the Reno Fire Department could not have done a better job. I agree. Sincerely, Brooks Mitchell Mayor, City of Loyalton