AR Firefighters Living in Camper over Mold in Station

Arkansas firefighters are staying in a camper while mold is being removed from their fire station.

The Maumelle Fire Department had closed the station for nearly a month after firefighters reported feeling ill, KLRT-TV reports. Staff and apparatus were moved to another firehouse, but that created issues with fire coverage.

"Our response time more than doubled to some parts of the city because this station was closed,” Division Chief Michael Cossey told the TV station.

Instead of moving crews, the department put a camper in the station's apparatus bay that's used as a kitchen, dorm and bathroom. A living area—complete with a TV, couch and several recliners—was set up in other parts of the bay.

“It’s not ideal, but it is necessary. It’s working now, and it will work until they get the problem addressed,” Ryan Kotch, one of the firefighters who became sick from the mold, told KLRT.

Part of the station where the mold was discovered has been closed off while it's being removed. How long that will take is not known.

“That process is at least ongoing so we are looking for that to wrap that up pretty soon,” Cossey told KLRT.