Future unclear for asbestos-laden fire station

Dec 8, 2009

The Wrightsville Beach fire station in North Carolina was built in the 1960s as part of a seawater treatment plant. Fire Chief Frank Smith led town officials through a tour of the facility in mid-November to help them determine what will become of the building when the fire department moves to the new public safety facility that should be completed by mid-2010. The fire department has been in its current location since 1983. As time has gone on, however, the upstairs dormitories had to be vacated because of mold contamination. When renovations take place to remediate the facility for new use, asbestos contamination is another concern that will have to be dealt with. The toxic substance asbestos was used commonly in construction materials during the 1960s—when the facility was built—and certified asbestos contractors are required to handle the material whenever renovations or demolition take place.

One possible use of the fire station facility would be for storage of police and parking equipment. Other suggestions include gutting the building but leaving the framework intact to create a covered outdoor shelter for the farmers’ market or garden club and athletic events. Another idea was to turn the building into indoor basketball courts or a skateboard park.

For the full story, go to Lumina News.

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