Mold, water damage and a laundry list of building and ventilation problems greeted Marion County Public Health inspectors this week at Decatur Township’s main fire station. The violations were found at Station 71, the township’s government center and firehouse at 5410 S. High School Road. County officials have given township leaders a fix-or-pay deadline of May 25 and warned that the office could face fines if repairs are not completed.
What inspectors found
The county’s notice of violation reads like a home-inspection report gone wrong. Inspectors listed water-damaged and moldy ceilings, drywall and wood framing, plus deteriorated siding and soffits and missing or broken downspouts. They also flagged ill-fitting, non-weather-tight windows, bathroom fans that do not vent to the exterior, a dirty or missing furnace filter and registers that restrict airflow. Those problems are laid out in the official notice, as reported by WISH-TV.
Where the station sits
Station 71 is listed on Decatur Township as the facility at 5410 S. High School Road that houses engine, ladder and medic units along with the trustee’s office. The township website posts the station’s address and contact information for residents. With both active fire apparatus and administrative offices under the same roof, the inspectors’ findings touch everyone from firefighters to visitors stopping in to handle paperwork.
Health risks for staff and visitors
Mold exposure can affect people very differently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that “exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all,” and that problems can include a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes and skin rash. The Institute of Medicine in a 2004 review likewise linked indoor dampness and mold to upper-respiratory symptoms, cough and wheeze. All of that is not exactly what you want in a building where first responders spend long shifts.
Township response and what comes next
The I-Team reported that it reached out to the Decatur Township Fire Department and the township trustee and was waiting for a response. The public-health notice was issued to the township trustee and gives the township until May 25 to correct the violations, with fines possible for noncompliance, according to WISH-TV. Residents with concerns about mold or housing conditions can contact Marion County Public Health; local coverage cites the department’s complaint line at (317) 221-2150, and broader reporting about rising mold complaints is available from WRTV.
Township officials now face a short window to make repairs or work with the health department on next steps. If fixes are completed, the county is expected to re-inspect. If not, administrative fines remain on the table under public-health enforcement. This story will be updated when the township or county releases comments or documents showing how the problems are being addressed.
