NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A federal agency is evaluating Castle Hayne firefighter health concerns after a local fire captain and the International Association of Fire Fighters alleged the county failed to address toxic hazards at a local station.
ALSO: ‘Disheartening’: Firefighters association slams county response to Castle Hayne cancer concerns
Assistant county manager Lisa Wurtzbacher sent commissioners an email on Monday, March 10, notifying them the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is evaluating Fire Station 13 personnel’s health risks and concerns. The NIOSH is a division of the CDC responsible for researching and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.
“We are happy to have the agency come out and perform the evaluation and provide us with any recommendations that might improve the wellbeing of our staff, and we will be notifying our Fire Rescue staff of the evaluation later today,” Wurtzbacher wrote. “Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding this evaluation.”
Station 13, built in 1983, is in close proximity to a former Superfund hazardous waste site and the facility has faced recurrent mold contamination. Recent PFAS concentrations at the station are below advisory levels, but in 2023 testing found high PFAS levels — including PFOS concentrations of 74 parts per trillion. The county plans to move firefighters out of the building in September after a new Castle Hayne station is completed.
Wurtzbacher said the agency will potentially visit the site after reviewing requested information, including:
- Water testing results for Station 13 from 2022 to the present
- Air testing results for Station 13 from 2022 to the present
- Mold testing results and remediation plans from 2022 to the present
- Workers’ compensation claims for employees at Station 13 from 2022 to the present
- A description of the components of the NFPA 1582 medical evaluation for new hires/candidates and incumbents, including specific tests performed by our health care provider and details on ultrasound-based cancer screening
- Contact information for the health care provider contracted to provide medical evaluations
“The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health health hazard evaluation is ongoing and the HHE program does not comment on open evaluations,” a CDC spokesperson told Port City Daily. “However, once finalized and shared with all parties involved in the [evaluation], NIOSH project officers can discuss the HHE and clarify its findings.”
The CDC investigation comes months after the International Association of Fire Fighters sent a letter to the county urging immediate action to ensure firefighter safety after an informal health survey of Station 13 personnel found more than half of 23 participants suffered serious health maladies including cancer, gallbladder removals, kidney abnormalities, and liver dysfunction.
Station 13 Fire Captain Steve Hunt told Port City Daily he began raising concerns to county officials about workplace hazards in 2021. As previously reported by Port City Daily, he filed a crime tip with New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office alleging Wurtzbacher, Fire Chief Donnie Hall, and Health Director John Campbell’s actions on the issue amounted to criminal negligence.
“I am grateful that NIOSH is investigating the health hazards at Firehouse 13,” Hunt told Port City Daily. “I remain hopeful that the state will also examine the suppression of concerns and any potential illegal efforts to prevent the reporting of safety issues.”
Hunt sent New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon a March 8 email asking if he was aware of efforts to block his crime tip, and if he supported the actions the department took on it, deeming it inappropriate for criminal investigation and more appropriate for a civil lawsuit. He also asked if McMahon would formally request an investigation of alleged obstruction and intimidation by county officials to the State Bureau of Investigation or another appropriate agency. Hunt told PCD he had not yet received a response.
New Hanover County maintains it has done everything necessary to ensure the site’s safety, including regular testing and remediation efforts, installing advanced water filtration systems, supporting firefighter participation in health studies, and constructing a new fire station to replace the current facility in September 2025.
“New Hanover County staff have not obstructed any reports regarding Station 13,” a county spokesperson wrote in an email to PCD last week. “Any claim that county staff retaliated against employees raising concerns is categorically false. Retaliation is a significant allegation that the county takes seriously, does not tolerate under any circumstances, and investigates immediately in accordance with established policies, procedures, and state laws.”
It contracts with Phoenix EnviroCorp to carry out mold inspections and remediation at Station 13. Phoenix removed visible mold growth after identifying it throughout Station 13 in August, according to a Jan. 16 report. Elevated levels of toxic airborne mold — chaetomium and penicillium/asperilligus — have remained in various parts of the facility in repeated samples from August up to the most recent December testing.
“We know that mold can cause real health problems,” UNCW biological oceanographer Larry Cahoon told Port City Daily. “It often flies under the radar because the mold is in dark, moist places. When you do find it, it’s often [linked] back to how watertight the building and your air conditioning systems are and that’s often a problem.”
PuroClean Restoration Professionals cleaned and sealed Station 13’s HVAC system in September. The facility’s packaged terminal air system were covered up during most recent testing, according to a January report.
“That’s where most of the obvious mold is,” Cahoon said. “I’m not sure of the reason for excluding the [HVAC] system.”
While Station 13 firefighters will move into a new facility in October, the IAFF and other firefighter associations argue relocating personnel should be an immediate priority.
“Comprehensive assessments and remediation efforts confirm that Station 13 is safe for ongoing operations,” county spokesperson Josh Smith told Port City Daily. “Relocating firefighters at this stage would create unnecessary risks to public safety, disrupt service to the Castle Hayne community, and offer no additional health or safety benefits for our personnel. Completing the new, state-of-the-art facility in October remains our top priority and will permanently address any long-term concerns.”
The county purchased a vacant 2.2-acre property at 4860 Castle Hayne Road to build the new Station 13 facility for $375,000 in March 2022. It is roughly a mile away from the current facility.
Real estate firm 6144 Carolina Beach Road LLC purchased the current Station 13 property from Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire Department Inc. for $1.4 million in April 2022, according to county property records. The company entered a commercial lease agreement with New Hanover County for the Station 13 property a month earlier on March 15.
The property owner sought to extend its agreement with the county in January from July 2025 to June 2026. Under the proposed agreement, the county would pay a maximum of $151,125 for the lease unless an insurance increase raised the cost.
“The county’s current lease for Station 13 is a three-year arrangement expiring June 30, 2025, with discussions underway for an extension,” county spokesperson Josh Smith said. “The base monthly rent is approximately $10,000, excluding taxes and insurance. The county does not oversee or manage the proceeds from the 2022 sale of the Station 13 property by Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire Department Inc.; questions regarding management of those funds should be directed to that organization.”
Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire Department reported revenue under $50,000 in its annual tax return every year from 2012 to 2023 with the exception of 2022, the year it sold the station for $1.4 million. No tax filing is available for the year on the IRS website.
Port City Daily reached out to the volunteer fire department to ask how the $1.4 million has been managed but did not receive an answer by press.
6144 Carolina Beach Road LLC’s president is Robert Perkins, owner of California-based oil company Romara Energy Inc. Wilmington-based Sun Coast Partners managing partner Grayson Powell is the registered agent for 6144 Carolina Beach Road LLC.
Perkins and Powell are also partners of Wilmington-based real estate investment firms Mararo Properties LLC and Mararo Warehouse LLC. Mararo’s Marlboro St. warehouse is leased to two tenants, HVAC equipment supplier Carrier Enterprises and industrial tool rental service firm Sunbelt Rentals.
Port City Daily reached out to Powell to ask about contamination concerns at the property but did not receive a response by press.
[Update: This article has been updated to note PuroClean Restoration Professionals cleaned and sealed Station 13’s HVAC system in September.]
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