Local
Asbestos and fire debris cleared from former hospital site in downtown Walsenburg
The EPA removed more than 1,500 cubic yards of asbestos-containing material and fire debris from the former Lamme Hospital property. Huerfano County says the cleanup is an important step toward making the downtown site safer and ready for possible future development.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finished removing asbestos-containing material and fire-damaged debris from the former Lamme Hospital property in downtown Walsenburg, completing a three-week cleanup in October 2026.
The agency removed more than 1,500 cubic yards of material. All of it was taken to a permitted landfill in Pueblo, the EPA said. The cleanup was intended to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure for people nearby and prepare the property for future development.
A major fire in October 2023 damaged the former hospital and an abandoned residence on the property. Huerfano County began investigating the site with a federal Brownfields Assessment Grant, which led to the discovery of asbestos-containing materials. A private landowner donated the property to the county in early 2026. The state later asked the EPA to help remove hazardous materials and address contamination.
“Huerfano County is grateful to the US EPA for their assistance cleaning up the old Lamme Hospital,” County Board Chair Karl Sporleder said in a statement. He said the work removes hazardous materials and is an important step toward making the downtown corner safer and more vibrant for residents and businesses.
EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western said removing asbestos and debris helps protect public health and the environment while supporting community revitalization. The cleanup clears a safety obstacle at a prominent downtown property, though no future use for the site was announced.