Firefighters are used to responding to other people’s emergencies. But some Longwood firefighters are battling an ongoing issue at their own firehouse.

  • Longwood Fire Station 15 suffering from flooding issues
  • Flooding has gone on for months
  • Interim fire chief says a new station is needed

While responding to calls for help during Hurricane Irma in September, Longwood firefighters at Fire Station 15 on West Warren Avenue found themselves dealing with water flowing in. At one point they had to move fire and rescue operations to Longwood City Hall during the storm.

But it wasn’t just during Irma. Interim Fire Chief Michael Peters says the fire station has flooded several times over the last few months.

“We’ve used sandbags, we’ve squeegeed, we’ve done all of the different techniques we could to lessen the impact,” said Interim Fire Chief Michael Peters.

Peters says the building has always sat in a low-lying area and been floodprone, but he believes an unmaintained retention pond across the street and construction at a park next door have changed drainage patterns and made the situation worse.

One firefighter tells Spectrum News 13 he’s one of several who’ve suffered from sinus infections he blames on mold from flood damage.

The chief say an air-quality test in early October showed the fire station is safe to be in. But Peters wants the city to consider moving the firefighters to another location, possibly a new fire station.

“It’s nearing the end of its life cycle, even under normal circumstances. Thirty-seven years is a long time to serve the community,” said Peters.

Until then, the firefighters have set up a water pump in front of the firehouse for anymore heavy rain. The chief says their focus will remain on serving the community.

“Obviously our duty to respond supercedes all of these other things,” said Peters.

Peters says Longwood city leaders are considering the flooding problems at the firehouse as they consider major changes involving several of the city’s buildings.