Mold growth raises health concerns in MP

November 28, 2002

11/22/02

By NATALIE CHAMBERS

MOSS POINT -- Mold growth in firefighters' living quarters at the Central

Fire Station on McInnis Street has firefighters demanding safer working and

living conditions.

The question, though, is what should be done -- renovate or replace.

It's an issue the mayor and board of aldermen are to address Dec. 3.

" The greatest concern to me is for my men's health. That is from the

standpoint, if the mold is too bad, which we think it is, then they could

end up with a health hazard problem that is in the far future -- things that

could take place with them that could hurt them for the rest of their life.

" It's just like asbestosis. You didn't know about that until how many years

ago? It existed, but nobody knew it. Now the mold issue has existed for

years, but nobody knew it, " said Capt. Herbie Crook.

" This issue has been going on since the damage we received from Hurricane

s and prior to then, " Crook said.

Firefighters said mold is only one of many problems they contend with there.

There are also exposed electrical wires and leaky ceilings.

Central Fire Station is probably the oldest city building. It was

constructed to house public works in 1929. It became a fire station in 1968.

Deterioration is visible to the interior and exterior.

The mayor and board of aldermen said there's $75,000 left in a 1998 bond

fund that was tagged for fire department improvements.

Fire Chief Earl Etheridge said the money is for a land purchase.

" What they're trying to do is decide whether they want to buy land and build

a new station or take the $75,000, if they can and renovate this station, "

Etheridge said.

Etheridge, as his firefighters, would like a new station.

" There is some mold in the building. Our insurance company sent two

different companies over to test it.

" I don't know if this is the dreaded black mold or what kind of mold it is, "

he said.

Another consideration is the affect on the city's fire rating.

Etheridge said he has called the fire rating bureau to find out the impact

if the station is closed for renovation or relocation.

" The question is how long we can be away from this downtown area until

there's a problem, " he said.

The closest station to the McInnis Avenue site is the Pine Island Station on

Luther King Boulevard, which is about two miles to the southeast.

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