No bed bugs found in Cleveland fire station; city still …

Cleveland fire station 40 bed bugs.jpg

Duct tape, towels and fire line tape seal a room at Cleveland Fire Station No. 40 on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The room was sealed by station personnel Sept. 27 after a bed bug sighting inside. (Brandon Blackwell, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Friday afternoon inspection of Cleveland Fire Station No. 40uncovered no bed bugs.

City spokesman Daniel Williams said on Monday that a pest-sniffing dog detected no bed bugs in the East Side station where a common room remained sealed for two weeks following a reported bed bug sighting.

"The dog sniffed and found nothing," Williams said. "The station was declared clean and clear."

Ehrlich Pest Control, the city's contracted exterminator, ignored multiple requests to check the station since the Sept. 26 sighting because the city owed the company thousands of dollars for past services, Williams said.

An Ehrlich exterminator finally visited the station on the 18900 block of St. Clair Avenue on Friday afternoon after the Division of Fire settled a nearly $2,200 debt, according to the city.

Thirteen city departments owe Ehrlich a total of more than $12,000 as of Monday morning, Williams said, adding that those debts are expected to be paid in full by Wednesday.

The Department of Public Health has the greatest debt, owing the company more than $5,800. The Division of Policeowes more than $5,500, according to the city.

The city is investigating why several departments are late on bills. The city can afford the payments, Williams said.

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No bed bugs found in Cleveland fire station; city still ...