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IRONWOOD -- The Norrie Elementary School in Ironwood hasn't been home to students since late January.  Its demolition started just about a week ago.

Now, at least one neighbor says what remains of the school and how it's being taken down is causing them to feel threatened in their home.

Nancy Davis has lived at her home across from Norrie Elementary School for about eight years.  She says it's been a peaceful place to live until Monday when demolition crews continued work on Norrie Elementary School.

Davis says the dust created by the demolition work is unreasonable and hazardous.

"I couldn't go outside because it was so bad; I felt like a prisoner in my home.  But there again, I couldn't get away from the dust because it was coming through the cracks in my house," says Davis.

She's also concerned about asbestos; she worried that the building, almost a century old, does not appear to have been properly treated.

"They didn't have covers, plastic over the windows or anything, they weren't wearing masks," Davis said.

Davis is also concerned about how the demolition will impact the local area's water quality.  Davis says she called the Department of Environmental Quality for answers but didn't get a response.

TV6 was also unable to speak with a DEQ representative about the demolition. 

We were able to speak with Northwoods Environmental, the asbestos removal service on site, who stated most of that asbestos had been removed when the school was still in operation.  They say they removed 'friable'--that's potentially hazardous asbestos that can be crushed and crumbed--from the basement and boiler room earlier.  

They say it's likely Davis observed the removal of non-friable asbestos from the caulking near the windows that does not pose inhalation hazards.  They describe the site as 'very safe.'

Contractor Angelo Luppino also insists the site is safe, and the dust is just part of demolition.

"We're spraying it down with water with a hose as we go, but when a bigger chunk comes down there, there's going to be a little bit of dust.  We can't reach all of it," says Paul Luppino.

Luppino also assures TV6 that they've complied with the DEQ standards and have the required permits.