Update June 24, 2020: According to an update from Capt. Dave Baker’s family, he has been taken off a ventilator and is continuing to recover in the ICU.
“He still has a long road of recovery ahead but he is proving to us that he is indeed, a strong man!” the update on the website Caring Bridge stated.
Original story:
Alma Fausto
The Orange County Register
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Seven Anaheim Fire & Rescue firefighters are battling coronavirus, one of whom is on a ventilator at a hospital, authorities said Monday.
The seven personnel who tested positive with COVID-19 are from the same firehouse, said Anaheim Fire & Rescue spokesman Shane Carringer, though he would not specify which one. It was initially reported that they were from two firehouses but Carringer later updated the information.
“There were two that were ultimately admitted to the ICU units of hospitals,” Carringer said. “One of them is stable and making progress in the right direction. One is on a ventilator.”
In a Twitter post, the department shared an image of a firefighter in uniform giving a hand to Mickey Mouse, one of Anaheim’s most famed residents. Carringer confirmed the firefighter in the image was modeled after Capt. Dave Baker, who is one of those hospitalized with COVID-19.
Apart from the two hospitalized, two are at home with mild symptoms and three have returned to work, Fire Chief Pat Russell said Monday afternoon in a statement on social media.
“One of the greatest strengths of this organization is how we rally to help our members in need,” Russell said.
“As with all challenging situations that we are all forced to endure, we will continue to lift each other up, support each other, and take care of one another.”
Carringer said that it was difficult to trace how the infected firefighters were exposed to the virus especially when the job often involves responding to provide medical aid.
Officials said there has been no disruption in service to Anaheim residents because of the infected personnel. The department has more than 200 firefighters in addition to paramedics.
There is one service call from May that officials suspect may have caused at least one case, but that has yet to be confirmed.
“This just highlights the dangers of being first responders,” Carringer said. “It’s the nature of the job.”
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