Asbestos Found In San Clemente Sheriff's Substation, 30 Evacuated

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — City contract workers discovered asbestos at a San Clemente Orange County Sheriff's Department substation, requiring deputies to relocate to Aliso Viejo, authorities announced.

The 30 people inside the building were evacuated immediately when the asbestos was disturbed, according to Orange County Public Information Manager Carrie Braun.

Additional testing conducted Wednesday confirmed material contractors disturbed did contain asbestos, and possible contamination did exist, Braun said. Any relocation is only temporary, during the alisbestos cleanup, and will not affect police services in San Clemente, according to Braun.

Meanwhile, officers would be on hand at a Mobile Command Post in the parking lot at the San Clemente station to assist deputies in their daily duties, Braun said.

"San Clemente is truly a community that cares, and we are grateful and humbled by the support we feel from our residents," Lt. Edward Manhart said over social media. "We say it often but can never say it enough, thank you for letting us be your deputies."

It was unclear how long the relocation would last.