Clay County Fire Stations being remediated due to moisture buildup, mold

Action News Jax is getting answers about unsafe conditions at some fire stations in Clay County.

Moisture buildup led to mold in Stations 13, 15, 17 and 23.

Action News Jax Investigator Courtney Cole spoke to Clay County Fire Rescue and learned firefighters will soon be living and working in better conditions.

Annaleasa Winter, the spokesperson for the department, told Cole some of the fire stations are older and were originally only designed to be volunteer fire stations.

However, over the years, Winter said those fire stations were modified into full-time fire stations.

Winter told Action News Jax modifications that were made over the years to add walls for rooms and to section off the buildings have prevented adequate airflow and allowed moisture to accumulate.

Now an engineering firm is working to conduct inspections and figure out what measures are needed.

Inspections for Station 13 in Clay Hill and Station 23 in McRae showed levels of mold that weren’t safe for firefighters to live in. Clay County Fire Rescue said mold was also previously found at Station 17 in Doctors Inlet.

According to Winter, temporary buildings are being provided for housing until the problem is resolved.

The spokesperson also said mold was found at Station 15 in Lake Asbury but not at unsafe levels, so firefighters are still using the facility.

According to Clay County Fire Rescue, no documented reports of injury or illness have been reported.

When it comes to response times, Winter told Action News Jax Station 17 firefighters are in a temporary structure on the property and Station 15 crews have full access to the facility, so there is no delay is fire rescue response times for these areas.

Stations 13 and 23 have not had delays in response due to relocating crews, according to Clay County Fire Rescue.

So, how much is all of this costing you?

Winter told Cole taxpayers won’t be feeling an extra pinch in their pockets. Money is already set aside in the budget for stations and maintenance.

Cox Media Group