Officials prepare to search for remains of man, 70, killed in Gloucester fire

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

State and federal officials have gathered in Gloucester this morning to prepare to search for the remains of Robert L. Taylor, a 70-year-old handyman who perished in an eight-alarm fire earlier this month that destroyed an apartment house and Cape Ann’s only synagogue.

"We are hoping we can put all the pieces together today so that the operation will begin tomorrow as originally planned,'' said Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for State Fire Marshal.

Equipment that will be used to sift through the debris for Taylor's remains is being transported to the site of the fire on Middle Street in downtown Gloucester. Department of Environmental Protection testing shows that wreckage is laden with asbestos, which will require a specially licensed contractor, Mieth said.

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