Shreveport officials plan emergency fixes after flooding, mold found at Fire Station 8

City staff told the Shreveport City Public Safety Committee that a new drainage project and an interagency agreement with Willis-Knighton are needed after water began flowing onto Fire Station 8 following demolition of a neighboring building.

Shelley Rangel, a city event and facilities staff member who briefed the committee, said engineers for the city and Willis-Knighton have designed a fix and sent plans to contractors for pricing. “They have designed that fix. It is to a contractor right now to get pricing, so we, hopefully, will have that back soon, and we can begin working with Willis Knighton to start that work,” Rangel said. She added that the repair will require an agreement between the two parties and that the city is exploring ways to accelerate work without delaying a permanent survey and legal signoffs.

The committee heard that the water problem became worse after Willis-Knighton removed an adjacent building. “When they tore that building down, it now causes water to come from that side onto our site,” Rangel said. City staff described the repair as substantial — roughly the size of “a 10 foot ditch” — and said it will take time to implement.

Fire Chief Reese said the department had an environmental hygienist inspect the station after occupants reported water and possible mold. He said a restoration contractor found mold in a bedroom/closet and the city spent about $2,800 to remediate that area. “We did have that mold remediated,” Reese said. He told the committee that since the remediation there had been no significant rainfall and that firefighters contacted said the living conditions, while a concern, have not yet justified relocation.

A council member representing the district said the matter is “personal” to her because firefighters raised safety concerns and she learned the remediations had been done only after seeing posts from firefighters on social media. She asked staff for a two-week update, and city staff agreed to return with a timetable and next steps. City officials said they will try to negotiate a temporary work agreement with Willis-Knighton so construction can begin while a permanent survey and formal agreement are finalized.

City staff also noted the remediation and repairs will likely require coordination of legal review and possible city council ratification, and they requested guidance from the committee on how fast to move while lawyers complete any paperwork.

The committee did not order relocations; chiefs said firefighters contacted so far declined temporary moves. Staff said they would return to the committee in approximately two weeks with further information on contractor pricing and the path to begin work.

Ending: The city intends to pursue a temporary agreement with Willis-Knighton to allow immediate mitigation work while completing surveys and formal legal agreements. The committee asked staff to return with an update in two weeks.