Thorold's firefighters are working among asbestos, leaking sewage and heavy diesel emissions – not at fire scenes, but rather at their own headquarters.
A new report, prepared by Thorold Fire Chief Terry Dixon reveals that Fire Station 1, built in the mid-60's has undergone severe decline, to the point that the building is home to a string of serious health hazards.
"With the fire hall being a public facility, we do not meet compliance and could be subject to associated fines for non-compliance," Dixon sums up his report, which details how asbestos has been disturbed at two places in the building; the boiler room, and the office of the Fire Prevention Officer, prompting remediation to deal with the volatile substance.
"Asbestos situations at Station 1 are of very great health and safety concerns," Dixon writes.
"We have had two repairs done this year one in the boiler room on the boiler and one in the FPO office where the asbestos was disturbed and needed to be remediated. I know we have other City facilities that have asbestos in them and it is important for the City to recognize and properly identify and notify staff that work in those buildings. However, the difference at Station 1 headquarters is it is staffed 24 hours a day 365 days a year."
The building also violates the fire code in at least two places; the boiler room, and through lack of space for filing cabinets, resulting in them being placed in the stairwell.
But the issues do not end there.
According to the report, a rotted out copper pipe in the wall from the urinal in the men’s washroom was leaking into the upstairs kitchen earlier this year, and another sewer pipe leaking raw sewage onto the roof of Pumper Truck 1. It has been repaired with PVC, but will likely need be repaired again, according to the report.
Firefighters are also dealing with a lack of proper facilities to decontaminate their equipment after having attended a fire scene, making it hard to remove cancer-causing debris from equipment.
“We have to wash and rinse masks in a 5-gallon-pail, with no place to hang them to dry, so they put them back into the lockers with their bunker gear. This again is a very big health and safety concern.”
Female firefighters are also lacking designated facilities and a shower, and three offices and a change room are situated directly above the vehicle bay, which prompts concern for diesel emissions from below, which are currently mediated through a hose to lead the emissions outside the building.
ThoroldToday requested an interview with Dixon regarding the conditions at the fire station, which was declined with reference to the city's 2009 media policy, which states that department heads only communicate through statements made by the city's administrative office.
On Tuesday night, design plans for the planned new fire station will be presented to council.
