Three individuals have agreed to pay $10,000 each for burning 10 chicken confinement buildings near Villisca, Iowa without proper approval. Shawn Gohlinghorst, Darrel Schipansky, and Tyson Means were fined by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the June 29, 2023 fires. The buildings were intended to be razed for agricultural purposes, but the men failed to inspect them for asbestos and did not obtain approval from the local fire chief. The fires were reported by nearby residents and emergency responders were not initially aware of them.
The wood-framed buildings, each 50 feet wide and 728 feet long, burned intensely and were visible for miles due to their size. Despite no asbestos being found in the debris, it was unclear whether it was present in the buildings prior to the fires. Gohlinghorst and Means disposed of the debris at a landfill in September and October 2023. All three individuals agreed to pay the $10,000 fines, the highest amount that the DNR can assess administratively.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported on the fines, highlighting the consequences faced by the individuals for burning the buildings without proper approvals. The incident raised concerns about potential air quality issues and the need for proper procedures when demolishing structures. The fines serve as a reminder of the importance of following regulations to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
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