From non-functioning smoke detectors and rodent infestations to leaking roofs, cracked walls and unabated asbestos, the awful condition of many District fire stations is a threat to both firefighters and the public, an inspection found.
The review of the city’s 33 fire houses and its fire boat station, performed by the D.C. Inspector General during unannounced visits between May 19 and June 21, concluded that “building conditions … threaten the health, safety, comfort and effectiveness of [Fire and Emergency Medical Services] employees and negatively impact the work environment and employee morale.”
The final report, released Monday, found serious infrastructure failings at virtually every fire station. Emergency alert systems were broken, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors failed tests, asbestos was exposed, windows were broken, doors didn’t lock, floors were damaged, roofs were leaking and pipes were clogged.
Employees who spend their time cleaning and repairing their fire houses, the IG warned, “may compromise their energy levels and stamina to the point where their response capabilities on an emergency call are affected.”
In its response to the inspection, FEMS said all stations now have battery operated smoke detectors in place. The “age of most firehouses provide no quick fix,” the department said, but many repairs are performed in a timely manner — though expediting those fixes will require more staff and a substantially increased budget.
