Published: December 17, 2008 04:41 pm      

BLACK MOLD SHOWN TO BE CULPRIT AT STATION 3

Can trigger fatal allergic reactions; cleanup in the works

The Suwannee County Commission on Tuesday authorized acting County Coordinator Donald Robinson to hire a firm to remove potentially toxic mold from County Fire/Rescue Station 3 in Branford. In the meantime, personnel were warned to stay clear of the premises until the mold is removed.

"We need to go out for rfp's (request for proposals) to dig into this problem and to see if we can find a cure," Robinson told the commission. "We'll go on the recommendations of these professionalized people and hopefully it won't be as severe as you think it is and if it is then we'll just have to deal with the problem."

Landwise Inspection Services in Lake City was called in recently to see why firefighters were constantly getting sick.

"I had Landwise come in after several complaints by my personnel of flu-like symptoms, their noses bleeding, not feeling very well," county Public Safety Director Charlie Conner said.

The inspection, performed on Nov. 25, showed "sufficient evidence of active mold growth/sporulation and water intrusion. Air-sampling showed black mold fungal spores (Stachybotrys), which has been shown to cause severe allergic reactions and even death in many cases.”

As a result of the findings, the inspector, Rick Bringger, recommended "immediate evacuation of the living area" and "remediation of the property by a State of Florida licensed mold remediation professional."

Conner, with the help of commission chairman Jesse Caruthers and District 5 Commissioner Wesley Wainwright, found suitable living quarters for the crew, a five bedroom, three bath home owned by Mona Hurst at 106 SW Drane St. in Branford. The crew will operate from the home until the problem is fixed. Rent is $700 per month.

Black mold, or stachybotrys, is found in grains, decaying plant materials, textiles and tobacco. It also grows indoors on water-damaged cellulose-rich materials such as sheet rock, paper, ceiling tiles, insulation backing, gypsum board and wallpaper. Exposure to black mold toxins can occur through inhalation, ingestion or skin exposure. The Landwise report states that it is possible for this type of mold to play a role in “sick building syndrome,” a condition which leaves a building permanently uninhabitable, but more than likely other factors are also at work in such cases.