An environmental consulting firm has found soot and dust containing potentially hazardous byproducts of the deadly and destructive Marco Polo high-rise fire in condo units and common areas, the homeowners association told owners this week in a memo.

Access to 59 units on the 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th floors remains restricted, and the firm ENPRO Environmental took bulk samples and found asbestos in the texture on ceilings, drywall joint compound and mastic under carpeting, an Aug. 25 update to the residents and owners said.

ENPRO was retained shortly after the fire, and tested the air quality on three floors above and below the 26th floor for asbestos fibers released into the air by the fire, but had not found any air quality samples that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for asbestos.

Three people died and five others were seriously injured in the seven-alarm Marco Polo high-rise fire on Kapiolani Boulevard on July 14. An 81-year-old disabled woman, trapped on the 32nd floor for four hours, died 20 days later.

Of the more than 80 units damaged by flames, more than 30 were destroyed and another 130 sustained water damage. The total damage estimate exceeds $100 million.

Many of the residents and owners are frustrated, unable to access their belongings — from personal items to furniture — and have not been notified as to the results of the inspections of their specific units.

“We’re kind of in limbo,” said Nezia Azmi, 37, and her husband, who have no access to their former 25th-floor apartment and have had to rent another home. “It is frustrating because we’re not able to move on,” said Azmi. “Appliances like an iron … when you look at one item at a time, it’s $20, but to replace everything at the same time (is a lot). After rent we don’t have anything left.”

The couple has been holding off on buying new furniture, including a bed. “It sounds trivial,” she said, considering the fatalities. “We’re not bad off. We’ve learned our lesson and got renter’s insurance.”

Azmi questions whether there really is significant damage in her apartment when a few feet away a family living in another unit is living there even though they had water damage.

The Association of Apartment Owners of Marco Polo has retained attorney David Louie, former state attorney general, and his law firm Kobayashi, Sugita &Goda to represent and protect the association’s interests regarding the fire.

The association told owners in the memo Wednesday it must balance the health, safety and welfare of everyone in the building; the desire of residents to access their belongings and units; and “the need to properly preserve all evidence regarding the fire pending a joint scene examination by interested parties.”

Although the Honolulu Fire Department’s on-scene investigation was completed weeks ago, forensic investigations by insurers continues, said Andrew Fortin of Associa Hawaii, Marco Polo’s property management company, in a response email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Some units will simply require cleaning, while others must have asbestos removed.

“The (association) has determined it is best for the efficiency of the repairs and health of the building to have all abatement work completed by one contractor,” Interstate Hawaii, the Aug. 25 update said.

Joel Horiguchi said his 25th-floor rental underwent a lot of water damage, and he wants to know the results of the testing for his unit.

“The problem is our stuff is still inside our unit,” he said. He said he was told three to four weeks ago that they would have to remove their items depending on the level of contamination. “There’s no telling whether they will give back our items.”

A condo owner and landlord who asked not to be named said he has owned the condo since March and that the rent was supposed to help pay for the mortgage.

Although his insurance covers one year in rental income (minus a $1,000 deductible), he worries that repair work has not yet started and might not be completed by July. “If they don’t start now, they’re not going to finish in time,” he said.

Fortin said Associa has been working diligently with the Marco Polo board, Interstate Hawaii and First Insurance of Hawaii.

“Just as the fire was the largest fire in the history of this state, the rebuilding project is a large and complex undertaking,” Fortin said. “To date, we have provided updates to the residents as information becomes available. … As contracts are finalized, individual unit plans are developed and as investigations conclude, updates and information will be more frequent and more detailed.”

The Marco Polo was built prior to a city requirement to have fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed high-rises.

The City Council heard testimony Aug. 22 on a bill to require retrofitting older high-rises with fire sprinkler systems but deferred the measure to gather more information.

An informational briefing and community meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, 550 S. King St. Industry experts and fire safety professionals will discuss current fire safety regulations, prevention strategies, insurance plans and policies, and city rehabilitation loans and other programs available to assist the public. Public discussion and input on various concerns will follow.

Free parking will be available at the Civic Center parking lot. Entrances are on South Beretania and Alapai streets.