After Mold Clean Up, Calif. Crews Return to Station

KNIGHTSEN -- A fire station that closed two months ago after mold and bacteria were found there reopened Thursday.

East Contra Costa Fire Protection District leaders say they have removed mold and bacteria from parts of the Knightsen Fire Station, allowing firefighters to return there to work.

"We are excited to get the fire station back in service, and have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that the station is safe for our firefighters," Fire Chief Hugh Henderson said in a statement.

In late October, routine testing at the half-century-old station revealed that the water crews use to drink and shower with contained bacteria, fire district leaders said.

Mold also was found in the station's heating and air-conditioning system.

Fire employees moved temporarily to Station 54 in downtown Brentwood, which had closed in September because of budget cuts.

Now that firefighters have returned to Knightsen, Station 54 has closed again, fire district leaders said.

East Contra Costa Fire Protection District firefighters serve more than 100,000 people in an area spanning 249 square miles.

Contact Chris De Benedetti at 510-293-2480. Follow him at Twitter.com/cdebenedetti.

———

©2015 The Argus (Fremont, Calif.)

Visit The Argus (Fremont, Calif.) at www.insidebayarea.com/argus

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC