Black mold affects Beale

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Black mold affects Beale

By Witter and Eve Hightower/Appeal-Democrat

Appeal-Democrat - sville,CA

http://www.appeal-

democrat.com/articles/2006/05/29/news/local_news/news2.txt

Some Mid-Valley families have been driven from their homes to escape

black mold.

Beale Air Force Base officials have identified 59 homes in the last

several years with black mold concerns, and those homes have been

placed on an inactive list, according to Tech. St. Asselin, a

base spokesman.

Left untreated, black mold can spread until the apartment or home

dwellers have big problems on their hands, including allergies,

irritation and invasive disease, according to the federal Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention.

No one is living in those Beale homes, Asselin said.

" No one at Beale has been identified living in a house with a health

hazard, " Asselin said. " The bottom line is we are actively concerned

that we make sure they are living in a safe environment. "

Residents complained last week about black mold - moisture-loving

spores that show up as dark stains on walls, ceilings or floors - in

their homes and have threatened to file a lawsuit. As of Thursday,

Asselin said he wasn't aware of a lawsuit filed against the Air

Force.

Though the Yuba-Sutter area has a history of flooding, and flooding

is often connected with mold problems, county health authorities

said mold is generally not a problem.

Beale has a housing hazard inspector who checks out complaints when

residents bring them to the attention of the housing division on

base, Asselin said.

The mold complaints come as the base is gearing up for a housing

privatization project that, when finished in the next five years,

will create 306 new residences and renovate more than 1,000 others.

The privatization project has been in the works since mid-2002.

The Properties at Beale LLC has plans for a $275 million facelift of

base housing. The plan includes demolishing some of the oldest

housing, which dates back nearly 50 years.

On base, there are 179 homes in need of duct work and 41 have

drainage issues, in addition to the homes with mold problems,

Asselin said.

Complicating the mold problem was the extended rainy season this

year, he said. Homes on higher ground have suffered fewer problems

with mold than those on lower ground or in areas where the homes

have accumulated a lot of moisture, he said.

Base officials could not comment on individual cases or put the

Appeal-Democrat in touch with affected families because they have

threatened a lawsuit.

Asselin said that when people move into the homes, they are given a

packet of information that includes tips on how to keep regular

household mold at bay.

Black mold, however, cannot be treated with bleach and water. It

needs a more thorough cleaning effort.

Appeal reporters Witter and Eve Hightower can be reached at

741-2400.