Woolshed fire: Wickham air clear of asbestos but debris concerns remain following Annie Street blaze

It comes as firefighters on Thursday continued to work on several hot spots underneath the four collapsed floors of the 80-year-old buildings left in ruins on Annie Street.

The shells of the two buildings, which were home to more than a dozen businesses, remained too unstable for firefighters to enter, prompting Fire and Rescue NSW to consult with other agencies and engineers about possibly bringing down part of the structures in order to make it safer for an internal firefighting effort.

A large crane was spotted arriving at the scene on Thursday afternoon.

THE WICKHAM BLAZE:

The Newcastle Herald reported this week that the roofs of the former woolsheds were made from Super Six - which contains asbestos - and that there were reports of the material drifting west.

Islington Public School and Islington Park remained closed because of potential contamination concerns.

Several nearby residents told the Herald they were worried after reporting suspected asbestos debris and being told by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) not to handle the material, but not being given an indication of what will happen next.

Maryville resident Peter Gow found large pieces of debris he believed contained asbestos - as well as large nails - around his house, in his driveway and on the road.

"I contacted the EPA and they said 'don't touch it' but cars were running over it and turning it into fibres," he said.

"I couldn't walk into my house without walking over rubble everywhere. It's a mind-boggling area of distribution."

Another Maryville resident, John Hughes, said he understood that the immediate area around the fireground was the highest priority but the EPA should be employ more resources to deal with the other affected areas quicker.

"I don't think they recognise the size of the problem," he said.

Another resident, Gennice Davies, said the self-reporting aspect was problematic because some people did not know what asbestos looked like and others may not realise they have debris on their property.

The residents are calling for an improved registration system as well as better communication and more timely action to make sure their neighbourhoods are safe.

Once the EPA receives reports from residents regarding the extent and nature of debris, details are provided to the licensed asbestos expert to conduct an assessment.

An EPA spokesperson said no asbestos had been detected in the air around Wickham as of Thursday afternoon but the agency would continue to monitor the situation.

The spokesperson said work was underway to assess and remove asbestos from properties in Milford Street so residents could return home and other locations were being prioritised.

The EPA is urging people to stay away from material suspected to contain asbestos and report it by calling 131 555 or emailing info@epa.nsw.gov.au.

Police said their investigation into the cause of Tuesday's fire, under Strike Force Lynette, was ongoing.

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