Mold forces closure of first floor at Central St. Station

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Mold forces closure of first floor at Central St. Station

By Kate Sullivan Foley/ Correspondent

http://www.townonline.com/stoughton/localRegional/view.bg?

articleid=575779

MA

Friday, September 15, 2006 - Updated: 10:45 AM EST

A mold problem in the town's newest fire station on Central Street

forced the closure of the station's first floor on Monday and moved

staff members to the Freeman Street Station.

After dealing with an on-going mold problem that hasn't improved

with efforts, Stoughton Fire Chief Jardin said he needed to

make a move to provide for the health and welfare of the employees.

With firefighters working shifts running 24 hours at a time, the

employees essentially live at the station several days a week, said

Jardin.

" The town of Stoughton takes a very proactive role in providing

for the health and welfare of its employees...and due to this

current condition it was necessary to relocate some of our

employees, " said Jardin.

Fire apparatus was also relocated to the Freeman Street Station.

Jardin was meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12 with an independent

environmental company to assess the situation. He has also called in

the town's Board of Health director for assistance and notified the

state's Department of Public Health regarding the situation. The

Central Street Station is approximately 5-years-old.

At this point, the chief said, the problem causing the mold is

still unknown.

" We need to identify the problem before we can remove the mold, "

said Jardin.

The environmental company will be taking samples of the mold for

testing purposes and to help diagnose its origins. Jardin hopes the

results will be returned quickly.

" Right now all we care about is solving the problem and getting

everyone back where they need to be as soon as possible, " said

Jardin.