W. Sac Fire Station Closed; Mold Found

WEST SACRAMENTO – Fire Station 41 was closed indefinitely over the weekend because of health concerns after mold was found, Fire Chief Fred Postel said Monday. Firefighters normally assigned to Station 41, one of four firehouses in the city, were temporarily reassigned to a firehouse across town, Postel said.

The move came days after the city had reduced staffing at Station 41 following a Cal/OSHA inspection. Last week, the city kept the station open during the day and sent the firefighters to Station 43 at night.

The reassignment will result in “some impact on response times, but we believe that area will be adequately covered,” Postel said. The truck company and engine company that normally work out of Station 41 are now at Station 43, on Harbor Boulevard across from the main gate of the Port of Sacramento.

“We’re going to do a little more testing (at Station 41), and look at short-and long-term alternatives before we reach a decision,” Assistant City Manager Carol Richardson said. The city had been planning to tear down the station anyway, she said.