By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Mold remediation work at a Wichita, Kan., fire station has forced its continued closure while additional stations may also be taken offline, city officials said.
• Fire Station 15 will remain closed at least two more weeks as cleanup continues.
• Mold has been identified in most of the city’s firehouses, prompting remediation and possible relocations of crews.
• Officials said Fire Stations 11, 3 and 13 could be closed temporarily for similar work.
• The mold issues are occurring while voters decide on a proposed sales tax that would fund station maintenance and repairs.
WICHITA, KAN. — Mold remediation efforts will keep Wichita Fire Station 15 closed for at least another two weeks, and city officials say additional fire stations may also require temporary closures as part of the cleanup process.
Station 15, located at Lincoln and Rock Roads, was taken out of service amid mold concerns identified during remediation work, Public Works Director Gary Janzen told the Wichita City Council.
Janzen said firefighters assigned to Station 11 in south Wichita will be relocated soon for remediation work, and Fire Stations 3 and 13 in northwest Wichita could also be taken offline for similar cleanup efforts.
Officials have not ruled out additional closures as remediation progresses at the city’s fire facilities. Most of Wichita’s roughly 22 fire stations have reported mold issues.
The mold concerns have emerged as voters prepare to decide on a proposed 1% city sales tax that would help address maintenance backlogs at fire and police facilities, including structural repairs and upgrades.
City staff said remediation at Station 15 includes plugging ductwork and conducting air quality testing before firefighters can return, with similar work planned at other locations.