A mold problem has forced the closure of a portion of the Wright City Fire Protection District's main facility resulting in firefighters having to temporarily sleep elsewhere. The meeting room and bunk area have both been sealed off due to the mold and the insulation and drywall have been removed from both rooms. According to Fire Chief Ron MacKnight, the presence of mold was confirmed during a recent swab test. "It's a very difficult situation to deal with," MacKnight said. "I don't know what we're going to do. My firefighters and staff's health is at risk." The fire district's insurance company is planning to review the situation this week, along with having an engineer conduct a structural assessment, MacKnight said. He added that until the building is inspected further, the district has yet to determine the best route to clean the affected areas. "Right now, our hands are tied," MacKnight said. "They have to come up with a plan to take care of it." MacKnight, Assistant Fire Chief Todd Van Zuyen and administrative assistant Melissa Sherman remain at Station 1. The mold has not led to any health issues, but the relocation of the firefighters was made because of the lack of bunk space once the sleeping area at Station 1 was torn up, Fire Board President Randy Lewis stated. "It has to be addressed," he said. "If they were at risk, we'd close it and move somewhere else. We're in a waiting game." MacKnight said the mold became noticeable late last year when carpet was replaced and spots were found on ceiling tiles. He noted the facility had been prone to water leaks over the years, but at the time the drywall was removed "it revealed a bigger mold problem than initially thought." The evening shift firefighters now have a makeshift bedroom at Station 3, located several miles north of Wright City on Highway WW. The daytime crew remains at Station 1 in the bay area until the overnight crew takes over at 4 p.m. MacKnight acknowledged his department's response time may be slower for calls in the city, but noted that the trucks housed at Station 1 will continue to respond with help from volunteers.