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Interim fire leadership outlines 30/90-day plan for station repairs, mold remediation and equipment
Summary
Interim fire department leadership told the council they have an actionable 30/90-day plan to address concrete, roofing, HVAC, mold remediation, generators and door-access work at multiple stations and will email the full written plan to council members.
Interim Fire Chief Robert Havens and Interim Deputy Fire Chief Antonio Mitchell presented a prioritized plan for addressing physical deficiencies and safety items at Port Arthur’s fire stations during the July 29 meeting.
Deputy Chief Mitchell said staff developed a clean-up and repair strategy that breaks tasks into 30-day and 90-day segments and identifies longer-term items. He described specific work underway or scheduled at multiple stations: concrete repair and bids for Station 1; pest-control/termite inspection and roofing wear-and-tear evaluation; Station 3 rebuild in progress; Station 4 boat access and generator procurement; Station 5 floor repair and fence work; and Station 6 mold remediation and planned inline dehumidifier installation to address interior moisture.
Mitchell said the city will secure quotes for sprinkler and fire-alarm systems where needed; purchase orders were being issued. He also said the city’s insurance representative will perform a comprehensive evaluation of all stations and that earlier assessments (in 2023) would be updated in 2025. Mitchell told council that many of the identified items appear to be wear-and-tear rather than insurable events, but staff will pursue insurance coverage where appropriate.
Council members asked for the written 30/90-day plan and estimated costs; City Manager Lynn and Chief Mitchell said they would email the report to all council members by the end of the evening. Council member Kinlaw emphasized urgency, especially for mold and HVAC concerns, and asked staff to pursue insurance claims where appropriate.
Next steps: City staff will send the written plan to council, schedule remediation work where urgent, obtain contractor quotes and coordinate with risk/insurance staff to pursue coverable claims.
