Mold keeps Walpole station closed

August 30, 2006

Daily News Transcript - Needham,MA

By J. Mantone/ Daily News Staff

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - Updated: 02:23 AM EST

articleid=77605

WALPOLE -- East Walpole's Fire Station Two remains closed this week,

with town work crews ripping out wall boards and stripping away the

wet insulation where mold was found festering two weeks ago.

The station has been closed since Aug. 10, following complaints

by the three firefighters who staff the facility about a strong,

foul odor.

Investigations into the smell revealed moisture behind the

second-floor training room walls and mold in the ceiling, forcing

the station shut and relocating its staff to the main fire station

downtown.

The town's building and maintenance department has been working

to repair and reopen the station since, though Fire Chief

said Monday he does not know when that will happen.

" They are making progress. They took two walls down, two 15- or

20-footlong walls that are 8 feet high, " he said. " They took both

walls down on both sides of the room, taking out the wet insulation

and removing the wet wall board, and replacing it with new stuff. "

The moisture that built up in the walls and ceiling, giving way

to mold, was likely caused by a new air-conditioning system

installed in the East Walpole station last year, but used for the

first time this summer.

The station underwent extensive renovations in 2005 to bring it

back into service last September. East Walpole has consistently been

the busiest area of town for fire and rescue calls, said.

He said the Fire Department will retest the air quality before

deciding to reopen the station.

" The building and maintenance department is trying to get the

schools open, too, so they're running around a little, " said the

chief. " Hopefully, we'll be good to go, I'm hoping soon. "

J. Mantone can be reached at 781-433-8354 or

amantone@....

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