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Fire Station 12 in Charleston Temporarily Closes Due to Mold

Fire Station 12 in Charleston, temporarily closed due to positive mold tests and safety concerns.

News Summary

The Charleston Fire Department has announced the temporary closure of Fire Station 12 in West Ashley due to a positive mold test. This is the second closure in less than a year related to mold concerns. Firefighters from this station will be relocated to ensure continued coverage in the area. Additionally, nearby Old Towne Road will experience lane closures for utility work. Local firefighters’ union expresses frustration over recurring mold issues and seeks accountability for better remediation efforts.

Charleston – The Charleston Fire Department has announced that Fire Station 12, located at 1352 Old Towne Road in West Ashley, will temporarily close due to a positive mold test. This marks the second closure of the station in less than a year due to similar mold concerns. The station, which houses Engine 112, had previously undergone remediation after a mold issue led to a closure just four months ago.

During the closure, firefighters from Fire Station 12 will be relocated to Station 11, situated on Savannah Highway, ensuring continued fire and medical coverage in the West Ashley area. The timeline for mold testing and subsequent remediation efforts is currently unclear, prompting concerns from the community and local firefighters’ union about the effectiveness of the previous remediation initiatives.

In conjunction with the fire station closure, sections of Old Towne Road (SC-171) will experience lane closures for underground utility work. The northbound right lane of Old Towne Road will be shut down over two nights: from June 18 at 9 p.m. through June 19 at 6 a.m., and again from June 19 at 9 p.m. until June 20 at 6 a.m. The affected area stretches from just after the fire station to before Charles Towne Landing. Drivers are advised to exercise caution and to seek alternate routes during this period.

This latest closure of Fire Station 12 has drawn attention to the ongoing mold issues that have plagued the facility. Local firefighters’ union, Local 61, has expressed frustration regarding these recurring problems, stressing the need for accountability and a sustainable solution to ensure the health and safety of the firefighters working in the facility. They have raised concerns that previous remediation efforts may not have been sufficient to address the underlying issues leading to mold growth.

The Charleston Fire Department is actively collaborating with city safety officers to address the mold concerns and to facilitate the relocation of personnel until the testing and corrective measures are completed. As the remediation process is initiated, it is vital for the department to maintain operational capacity and ensure that the West Ashley community remains served adequately.

This closure highlights the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the ongoing challenges that the fire department faces in keeping facilities safe for their personnel. Mold growth can pose significant health risks, making timely and effective remediation essential in protecting the well-being of firefighters who serve the community.

In light of the situation, Live 5 Investigates has sought access to mold testing and inspection reports from the last two years to provide transparency regarding the ongoing mold issues at Fire Station 12. However, these documents have not yet been made available for public review.

As the community awaits updates on both the mold remediation process and the utility work on Old Towne Road, it is clear that maintaining operational fire services and ensuring a safe environment for firefighters remain top priorities for the Charleston Fire Department.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed about the developments concerning both the fire station’s situation and the traffic changes on Old Towne Road as the city works to address these urgent matters.