LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Federal experts are examining the options for removing explosives and hazardous chemicals at a home in Louisville's Highview neighborhood.
In an update Monday afternoon, Jody Meiman, executive director of Louisville Metro Emergency Services, said it may take several days before the Environmental Protection Agency has any recommendations.
"We've mentioned burning the house for the last couple weeks, and, obviously, that's a last-ditch option for us to do," he said. "But with the federal EPA coming in and looking at some of the contractors that they may have, it could be different and they could be able to come in and clean it up."
He said the EPA has already been in the house along with local bomb techs assisting. State resources are also on site to help with decontamination of people coming in and out of the building.
Representatives from the EPA arrived on Applegate Lane on Monday morning. Roadblocks were set up at Timmy Lane, and the media was pushed back several blocks. A line of official vehicles including the Louisville Metro Police Bomb Squad were parked near the site along with tents set up near the curb.
A view through a high-powered lens of the WDRB television camera shows a line of official vehicles on Applegate Lane, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigates a home where dangerous chemicals and explosives were found. (WDRB Image by Darby Beane) Aug. 14, 2023
Meiman said the work on Monday focused on running tests for the EPA to take back to their labs, so it may be several days before they have results and can determine the best course of action.
"They're not moving any bottles or opening any bottles or anything like that," Meiman said. "So they're preforming some tests. They're going to take it back to theirs labs and see what kind of results they get and it'll be a couple days before they get anything."
For now, Meiman said the city feels like the house is stable. It's fenced off, has 24/7 surveillance, and Louisville Metro Police officers are on site. He also said the EPA would be "on site with us until this thing is cleaned up."
Mayor Craig Greenberg requested assistance from the EPA's Region 4 Emergency Response program to work with the city's Incident Management Team.
The city of Louisville filed a demolition order Aug. 1. The paperwork said the home and the adjacent garage have "known explosives, explosive fumes or vapors or the presence of toxic fume gases, or material ..." It also said that if the buildings were ignited, they'd be in "imminent danger" of collapse, possibly endangering anyone around.
Officials have also compared the condition of the home to that of a hoarder. It is filled with items, which compounds finding any possible explosives dangerous chemicals.
The investigation started July 27, when police went to the home on Applegate and arrested Marc Hibel, 53, on a tip that he "may be in possession of homemade explosives."
Officials found more than 20 dangerous chemicals in the home. Police said Hibel "is a chemist by trade and admitted to possessing laboratory-grade equipment and chemicals."
Hibel pleaded not guilty to wanton endangerment and burglary charges.
Hibel's attorney filed a motion to asking that the house not be allowed to be burned. They maintain that Hibel is a former chemist, and if the home if burned, it will destroy materials that could be used in his defense.
Initial plans by the city were to burn down the house, but after meetings with local residents and federal officials, Mayor Greenberg consulted with the EPA.
IMAGES | Inside the Highview home where explosives and chemicals were found
Louisville officials are trying to determine the best way to remove hazardous materials from the home on Applegate Lane.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Louisville Metro Emergency Services released more images from inside the home on Applegate Lane where officials say chemicals were found. (Image from Metro Emergency Services)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of the city of Louisville)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of the city of Louisville)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of the city of Louisville)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of the city of Louisville)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of the city of Louisville)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
Marc Hibel received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring. (Photo courtesy of Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations)
The city initially said it would burn down the house as part of the demolition, and it said it would evacuate about 1,000 nearby residents, if the plan called for a controlled burn. That plan has been put on hold while the EPA considers the next step.
The city said even if it is determined the controlled burn is the best and safest option, the burn would not take place this week.
Related Stories:
- EPA officials plan to enter Highview home where explosive chemicals, dangerous chemicals found
- Attorney files motion to stop city from burning down Highview home where explosives, dangerous chemicals found
- Louisville officials discuss demolition plan for Highview home containing explosives, dangerous chemicals
- Louisville home where explosives, dangerous chemicals were found last week will be burned down
- Police to conduct another 'controlled detonation' in Highview neighborhood
- Man arrested in connection to 'hazardous materials' investigation in Highview neighborhood
- Man accused of hoarding hazardous materials in Highview home pleads not guilty
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