Two of Boynton Beach’s five fire stations are closed while the city is investigating health concerns in the buildings, Mayor Jerry Taylor told The Palm Beach Post on Monday.
And, there are air-quality monitors at City Hall. While Taylor said the closings are because of either mold or mildew in the two fire buildings, Vice Mayor Joe Casello said he was told it was the former.
There is no date for when the stations on Boynton Beach Boulevard at City Hall, and on Congress Avenue at Miner Road will reopen, said Tim McPherson, the city’s human resources and risk administrator. He said the city is working with the firefighters’ union to determine that.
The employees of both stations have been moved to the other stations. Two from one station have already been tested and came back with elevated levels of feathers and feces in their lungs and blood, The Post reported in November. No one on Monday could tell The Post to what stations the employees were moved. McPherson said emergency response times have not been affected, however Casello — who was a firefighter for 33 years in Worcester, Mass. — said he is questioning how that is possible.