Gresham firefighters brought longstanding occupational safety concerns to city officials demanding improved working conditions and more staffing resources after two recent line-of-duty deaths and a growing number of serious illnesses.
Extended shifts mean increased exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, which all firefighters face. But in Gresham, union members said their hazardous working conditions far exceed what's considered normal, KGW8 reported.
“Not one of our stations are up to code. These are our homes and they're killing us,” Gresham Fire Battalion Chief Kestin Kim-Proudfoot told officials at a hearing Tuesday night.
He and others said the fire stations lack equipment in sleeping quarters that protect firefighters from diesel exhaust immitted from fire engines. They described sewage leaks, lead in the water and other toxic malfunctions, particularly at Station 75 in Troutdale.
Lt. Anthony Foster said while working a shift there in March, he got so sick he ended up in the hospital after suffering from dizziness and nausea.
“The crews with the help of fleet discovered that the truck batteries in the engine had been burning our entire shift and filling our station with the byproducts including sulfuric acid,” Foster said.
Station 75 is also where Firefighter Brian Flowers worked for the past 10 years. On Nov. 19, the 48-year-old died after battling Occupational Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
In February, Firefighter Brandon Norbury, 50, a former Navy SEAL, died of cardiac arrest during training
Two others are battling cancers now, union officials said.
After the emotional testimony, council members agreed to hire an industrial hygienist to assess working conditions in all of Gresham’s fire stations.
Stovall and two council members also plan to meet with firefighter union leadership to discuss solutions moving forward.
