Asbury Park: Firefighters at Monmouth County’s only paid fire department Asbury Park are not working in safe conditions. There are problems from the first floor all the way to the third floor. The third floor is covered in mold. The second floor is structurally unstable. Water is leaking into electrical panels in the kitchen, and mold spores are coming up from the basement. The building is more then 120 years old. The building has been condemned at least twice in the past. In 2006 the third floor collapsed. “The second floor is coming apart.” Local 384 Union president Jeff Bates said. “ You can see gaps where the floors are separating from the wall. To make matters worse, there have been heavy partitions added to that story, putting more weight on a structurally unsound area.” There’s also rodent problems; from bugs, roaches, mice, to opossums. According to Bates firefighters are getting sick. Firefighters live in the building so they can respond to calls faster. Numerous firefighters are coughing, and have diarrhea after their shifts. “We already know there are cancers that come with the job, and cardiac events and PTSD. Being in the firehouse shouldn’t be risking their lives too.” Plans are still years away for a new firehouse to be built.