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| Inspector General report on fire stations |
VOICE writes, "By IAN THOMS Current Staff Writer
The city's fire stations have deteriorated to the point that they pose a threat to the health and safety of firefighters, according to a report released last month by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.
In stations throughout the city, inspectors discovered evidence of asbestos, inoperative smoke detectors, exposed electrical wiring, broken windows and damage to interior and exterior walls. They found flaws in all 31 stations that were inspected. The fireboat facility also had deficiencies. Two stations were not examined because they were under renovation.
The report concluded: "Building conditions at numerous fire stations threaten the health, safety, and comfort of FEMS employees and negatively impact the work environment and employee morale."
Battalion Chief Kenneth Crosswhite said the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services department does not have enough money to maintain the 41 buildings it oversees. He said the department has $750,000 for maintenance every year. "Does that sound like it's enough?" Crosswhite asked. "
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In a letter to Inspector General Charles Willoughby, Fire Chief Dennis Rubin also cited lack of money as the primary cause for the condition of the stations. "Funding must be identified for some of the Department's major repairs. The poor conditions noted in your office's report are a product of decades of fiscal problems," wrote Rubin.
Crosswhite said that though he has not read the report, he has been told it is outdated. He said many of the problems outlined in it have been fixed, though he could not name specifics. The report is based on 2002 inspections and follow-up inspections conducted this year from May 29 to June 21.
In his letter, Rubin said many defects were fixed prior to the report's release, including the inoperative smoke detectors. The fire department received a draft copy of the report a little less than a month before it was completed. "I am pleased to report that most of the deficiencies outlined in the OIG report have been either abated or scheduled to be abated," Rubin wrote. "While we have admittedly made significant strides, our work is not done."
Rubin said steps have been taken to "aggressively" abate the asbestos problem in three stations, including one in Ward 6. The report said Station 18, at 414 8th St. SE, has unabated asbestos hazards, as well as damage to interior walls and an exterior wall. The fire department has requested the contractor who originally identified the asbestos to detail its "seriousness," Rubin said.
The contractor Volkert and Associates discovered asbestos in the three stations in 2002. The inspector general's report said the contractor "found that hazardous asbestos-containing material was present and posed a significant risk to human health." Battalion Chief Crosswhite said most of the problems in fire stations are the result of the same aging infrastructure plaguing much of the city. He noted that on average, fire stations are at least 60 years old. But even the most newly renovated stations have significant issues, according to the report.
Inspectors found that the emergency alert systems did not function properly in 21 of the 31 stations examined and that the fireboat facility also had deficiencies. A station's emergency alert system consists of loudspeakers that emit an alert tone and announcements detailing emergency call information; lights that provide a visual alert; a printer that details call information; and an electronic message board.
At-large Council member Phil Mendelson, chair of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, said the city should not accept inadequate work from contractors. "I find it disturbing that we pay a lot of money to contractors for these projects, and in a very short time we find problems with them," Mendelson said.
But Crosswhite, who used to be stationed at Tenleytown, said these issues are to be expected. "Just like when you buy a new house, you're going to have a punch-out list. You're going to have problems no matter what," he said.
No matter the age or the location, all of the city's fire stations have problems, according to the report. Seven of the stations, as well as the fire boat facility, are in Ward 6.
Holes in walls and broken windows at many stations have created access for rodents and insects, the report says.
At 430 New Jersey Ave. NW, Station 3 has a live, pigeon-sized bird on the top floor, as well as exposed electrical wires and damage to interior walls.
Station 8, at 1520 C St. SE, also had rodents and mosquitoes. Inspectors also noted cracks in exterior walls, an improperly functioning heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system and a malfunctioning emergency alert system.
Water damage is another frequent problem. At 1101 Half St. SW, Station 7 has numerous water-damaged ceiling tiles, as well as an improperly functioning HVAC, exposed ductwork, a lengthy crack in an exterior wall and a malfunctioning emergency-alert system.
In Station 13 at 450 6th St. SW, water drips from an office ceiling and has caused damage. The station also had a malfunctioning emergency-alert system and a poorly installed window air-conditioning unit in a ground floor bedroom.
At 2813 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Station 19 has water damage, a malfunctioning alert system, broken windows, inoperative showers, an improperly functioning HVAC system and bird droppings in the hose tower.
The report delineated similar defects throughout the city, and such findings have drawn the ire of Mendelson. The council member said the fire department's infrastructure must receive the attention and investment it requires. In a statement, Mendelson said: "As we invest millions of dollars to ensure that our students can attend school in buildings that are conducive to learning, we must make a similar effort to house our FEMS personnel in buildings that are conducive to the efficient and effective delivery of fire and emergency medical service. Anything less is unacceptable."
Lt. Dan Dugan, president of Fire Fighters Local 36, said he hopes the inspector general's report will provide the pressure necessary to force the city's leadership to invest in the stations. "The fire houses are just like the rest of the infrastructure in the city," Dugan said. "The city went through a long period when nothing was done. Now, there is a whole lot of catching up to be done. Hopefully that report will light the fires."
Intern Hannah Rexroth contributed to this report.
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Posted on Nov 15, 2007 20:10pm.
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