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Lane County Firefighter Tests Positive for COVID-19 While Out-of-State

ANDY NELSON
/
REGISTER-GUARD/ POOL

A previous web-version of this story, that also aired, included incorrect information from a Lane County employee, stating out-of-state firefighters in the county had tested positive for COVID-19. This story has been corrected.

 

 A Lane County firefighter has tested positive while working out-of-state. Meanwhile, the local public health department said they are testing all crews responding to the Holiday Farm Fire. 

According to Public health spokesperson, Jason Davis, the effort is to ensure there are not massive spikes of positive cases. That is why the county has been coordinating with firefighter camp health functions to screen and test any firefighter in the county that is symptomatic.

He said it is important people prioritize their health in addition to responding to the fires.

“When you're in a situation where there is a force feet away from you that could kill you, something that would take seconds to kill you, takes priority over something that could potentially kill you in a matter of days or weeks,” said Davis. “And that sounds like a ridiculous choice to have to make, but I think that's the choice that some of these folks are having to make—who are either evacuating their homes, having to go into congregate shelters while they wait, or the firefighters themselves who are living in conditions where they're sharing meal spaces, etc.”

Davis said no cases have been identified among in-state or out-of-state crews responding to wildfires in the county. If this happens, firefighters who test positive for COVID-19 will be provided on-site isolation, which is arranged by the agency that employs them. Davis said if there is nowhere available, Lane County can facilitate isolation accommodations.

But a Lane County firefighter working in another state has tested positive for COVID-19. This case will be added to Lane County’s current count since numbers are based on the person's home address. 

Davis said testing will continue so long as firefighters are fighting fires.

This story has been updated.

Elizabeth Gabriel is a former KLCC Public Radio Foundation Journalism Fellow. She is an education reporter at WFYI in Indianapolis.
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