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Kan. firefighters return to firehouse as mold remediation continues

Firefighters are back at Station 15 after mold repairs, as Wichita continues remediation work affecting most of its fire stations

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A Wichita fire station has been evacuated after mold discovered during remediation work left firefighters with burning in their eyes, noses and throats.

KAKE News/YouTube

By Kylie Cameron
The Wichita Eagle

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita firefighters are back at work at Station 15, near Lincoln and Rock, which has been closed for several weeks due to mold issues, according to the local fire union.

The city disclosed recently that nearly 90% of its fire stations have mold issues and are progressing with mediation work.

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“Roof repairs are still underway at Station 15 to address the leaks, and we’ll continue working on that,” the firefighter union said in a Facebook post. “We’re glad to be back and ready to serve the Station 15 district.”

The next station to see remediation work is Wichita Fire Station 11, near Hillside and George Washington Boulevard. It’ll close Monday and relocate firefighters that are stationed there while work is being completed.

Two more stations will likely have to go offline later this year due to remediation work, according to City Public Works Director Gary Janzen.

Stations 3 and 13, both in northwest Wichita, will be the next to close and relocate firefighters.

City staff last month did not rule out whether more stations will also have to close temporarily as remediation work continues.

Wichita’s fire union told the Eagle earlier this year that mold has long been an issue at fire stations.

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