Fire station evacuated; mold to blame Saturday, March 03, 2007

Behind a HEPA mask, Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis (left) explains the mold problem in Station 76 to Mayor Shane Bemis Thursday.

Thursday afternoon I was called out for an assignment outside Gresham. It seems that Station 76, a semi-rural fire post, has been overtaken by mold to the point where the fire crews have moved camp to mobile trailers parked in front of the building.

Shane Bemis, Mayor of Gresham, was coming to look at the problem, and the Outlook wanted me to be there. The tour of the building was very brief—the mayor, fire chief, and station captain spent less than two-and-a-half minutes inside, looking at mold found on walls and a pillowcase. Afterwards, the parties retired to the mobile command post to discuss the matter without the need for HEPA masks. You can read the full story and see the best image in the Gresham Outlook.

One of the worst-affected walls.

Anyone have tips on how you can take a picture of two VIP's looking at a wall in a dimly-lit, 8'x10' room?