3 fire districts forced out of stations by mold

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3 fire districts forced out of stations by mold

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20050611-9999-

2m11mold.html

By Hazle

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 11, 2005

Firefighters in three rural North County fire districts have moved

out of mold-infested stations, and officials in one district suspect

the infectious fungi may have caused a " rash of respiratory

problems. "

Valley Center Fire Chief O'Leary said about 55 employees may

have been exposed to potentially harmful levels of mold at the Lilac

Road station. Three workers, he said, " have some symptoms that may

be related to mold, " including chronic coughing. "

A Deer Springs fire station and another in Ramona have had mold

problems as well, forcing those departments to house firefighters in

temporary structures until the facilities are replaced.

All three stations are manned by the California Department of

Forestry and Fire Protection under contract with the area fire

districts. The districts own and maintain the stations.

The Valley Center station, built by volunteers in the early 1980s,

is the only permanent wood-framed structure among the three.

A mold inspection revealed high levels of several fungi, including

some that can cause health problems, according to state health

officials.

Allergens found on some mold spores can cause runny eyes, runny

nose, throat irritation, coughing and sneezing and even chronic

illnesses such as sinusitis and asthma, according to a state report

about the risks of mold contamination.

Killing the mold, repairing the leaks and water damage, and renting

a trailer for firefighters is expected to cost about $100,000,

O'Leary said. The district is using budget reserves to pay for the

work, the chief said.

" Fortunately, our board of directors has contingency money for just

such disasters, " he said. " But we've slowly had to use that money to

cover normal operating expenses. "

Everything from fire apparatus to air vents had to be decontaminated

before it could be used. The fire district office, which is attached

to the station, was closed while the mess was cleaned up. It

reopened Monday.

The severity of the problem became apparent shortly after workers

replaced the station's roof, which had been damaged during the

winter.

Water had leaked beneath the outer shell of the roof and saturated

the walls from within, meaning much of the damage was hidden from

view, O'Leary said.

In Ramona, firefighters abandoned their aging quarters at Dye Road

and state Route 67 for a temporary structure about three years ago.

A new station is being planned and could be completed in about a

year if all goes well, said Tom Brammell, general manager of the

Ramona Municipal Water District, which provides fire services in the

area.

Deer Springs firefighters abandoned their fire station/mobile home

about two months ago. Water had collected beneath the unit and

leaked inside, causing excessive mold and water damage, Deer Springs

Fire Chief Rich Bolton said.

The district received a new double-wide mobile home Tuesday and is

expected to move into the unit in coming weeks. The new station,

which houses three firefighters and one engine, will cost about

$150,000, Bolton said.

Toxic mold is generally worse in newer, well-sealed buildings and in

moist, dark areas, the state report says.

Most airborne molds found indoors are saprotropic, meaning they feed

on dead, moist organic matter, including wood, paper, paint, fabric,

plant soil, dust and food.

The effects of mold on people vary depending on their physical

condition, the types and amounts of fungi they encounter, and the

duration of the exposure.

The health risks related to excessive mold exposure led California

lawmakers to pass the Toxic Mold Protection Act in 2002. The law

requires written disclosure of the presence and location of any

existing mold infestation to prospective tenants or buyers of

commercial or residential property.