Vermont Blast Spews Asbestos

A dust-filled antique grain elevator exploded and burned on Burlington’s lake front today, spewing smoke laden with cancer-causing asbestos over one-fourth of Vermont’s largest city.

More than 100 firefighters from three cities extinguished the fire in five hours at the five-story elevator, built around the turn of the century, but smoke wafted over the populous southern section of the city. No one immediately was evacuated, but officials suggested that people close their windows and shut off exhaust fans. Authorities also asked area businesses to close for the day if possible.