Talk Mold

Gresham Fire Department officials have closed a fire station — plagued for years by a leaky roof — because of health problems associated with potentially toxic mold.

Station 76, a Fire District 10 station at Southeast 302nd Avenue and Dodge Park Boulevard, was shut down Feb. 20 after firefighters in January complained of upper respiratory problems and sinus pain, said Gresham Deputy Chief Jim Klum. Gresham is under contract to run the station for Fire District 10.

“They were getting sick, and the crews didn’t feel comfortable staying in there,” Klum said. “If the crews don’t feel comfortable, I don’t feel comfortable. To err on the side of safety, we moved them out.”

Klum said it will take another two weeks for tests on the mold to be completed. In the meantime, firefighters are working in the parking lot out of a mobile command trailer borrowed from the Multnomah County Department of Emergency Management.

Lt. Kirk Kelly, assigned to the station for about five years, said the building has always been damp because of its flat roof and drainage problems. He said he believes the mold problem was exacerbated by poor ventilation and remodeling jobs that created separate sleeping quarters for firefighters.

Last week, after meeting with firefighters, fire officials emptied the building and spent two days moving computers, faxes and other electronic equipment into the mobile command center.

Greg Matthews, president of the Gresham Professional Firefighters Union Local 1062, said the arrangement is not getting in the way of providing fire services to the community.