EPA begins demolition of Highview home where explosives, dangerous chemicals were found

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After months of planning, crews have started dismantling a home in Louisville's Highview neighborhood where dangerous chemicals and explosives were found in July.

Applegate Lane was closed off as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got to work Monday tearing down the house. Only officials and residents living inside the barricaded area are allowed past a certain point.

The EPA began the demolition process by removing structural parts of the home. Materials being removed are going into a buried steel container, crushed and then mixed with sand to prevent any potential reactions. Crews will then dispose of it off-site.

After detonating explosives on-site back in July, the city originally planned to burn down the house. But the EPA scratched that plan, instead opting to tear it down with an excavator, which it said is the safer option.

"We were all, everyone in the neighborhood, was worried about the controlled burn," neighbor Edward "Ed" Garner said. "Now that they're not doing that, we all feel better about the situation."

The home belongs to Marc Hibel, 53, a former chemist.

Acting on tips from the public that Hibel "may be in possession of homemade explosives," two properties in the 6200 block of Applegate Lane were searched by Louisville Metro Police officers and other law enforcement officials, who found multiple explosives and "massive amounts" of dangerous chemicals. Officials said there were more than 20 different chemicals identified.

Police said Hibel owns one of the homes and had been squatting in the other house on the corner.

According to court documents, Hibel invited authorities in and showed them what he called homemade explosives using TNT. An arrest citation for Hibel said he "admitted to possessing laboratory-grade equipment and chemicals."

Hibel was arrested and charged with burglary and wanton endangerment. His attorney filed a motion to block the destruction of the home, arguing it will destroy materials that may be used in Hibel's defense, but a judge hasn't ruled on that motion yet.

The demolition is expected to take less than two weeks to complete.

Neighbors of the home said Monday they're in favor of the safer, controlled demolition.

"If you don't know what you're burning, you don't know what the result might be," said Garner. "Doing this controlled take down, putting it in containers, that tells me there's less of a chance for things to leak and spread out this way."

The EPA has also put what officials call an air monitoring network in yards across the neighborhood. The locked boxes make sure the air is safe for neighbors, even those outside of the blocked off area of Applegate Lane.

For more information or updates, click here.

Related Stories: