Martin Estacio
Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.
DAGGETT, Calif. — The temporary closure of a volunteer fire department here drew criticism from two of its members — one of whom tested positive for the coronavirus — who say it was unnecessary and borne out of fear.
The Daggett Volunteer Fire Department ceased operations Monday after the Daggett Community Service District Board made the decision during a meeting.
The 14-day suspension was necessary to protect residents, according to CSD President Mark Skaggs.
“We closed it down for safety for the community because one of our fire department personnel was exposed, and he was around the rest of the department,” Skaggs said.
Although a statement on the District’s website did not identify the member who contracted the virus, Daggett Fire Assistant Chief Ingrid Chacon told the Daily Press she’d tested positive.
But she and Daggett Fire Chief John Golden still believe the decision to close was a hasty one.
Chacon said the last time she’d been in Daggett — the small, unincorporated community 10 miles east of Barstow — was on March 24 to teach firefighters on the use of personal protective equipment when responding to suspected coronavirus patients.
At the time, Chacon said she hadn’t experienced any symptoms, adding that firefighters were practicing social distancing and using hand sanitizer.
About six days later, she said she starting experiencing headache, ear pain, a runny nose and sore throat.
On April 2, she said she asked Golden to take her to be tested at a drive-thru event in Riverside County where she lives. She received the results Saturday.
Golden said that was the day he and another firefighter were in the same vehicle delivering water to Daggett and outlying communities.
Once he became aware of the results, Golden said he went into isolation and advised his fellow firefighter to do the same. He also said he was in contact with other fire agencies to ensure they were informed.
“I didn’t expose anybody. You can’t do this during a national emergency when we run up to 200 calls a year,” Chacon said of the District’s decision. “Now what this does is it takes resources from other departments.”
The San Bernardino County Incident Management Team, which is overseeing several fire departments during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Yermo/Calico Volunteer Fire Department and firefighters from the Marine Corps Logistics Base would handle calls in Daggett while the town’s fire department is closed.
At least five firefighters, including Chacon, have tested postive for COVID-19 countywide, according to the team.
Daggett’s fire department responds to about 225 calls per year, with 80% of those being for medical aid, the county said.
According to Golden, not having local firefighters in Daggett could possibly endanger residents due to longer response times.
“You have approximately 5 minutes when someone goes into cardiac arrest” before they start to suffer irreversible brain damage, Golden said. “The longer you wait, the less chances that they have of survival.”
Skaggs, however, said he had no choice but to shut the department down.
He said he believes at least six other firefighters, besides Chacon and Golden, became exposed to the coronavirus by association in the close-knit department of 10 members.
“We locked it down because it was a majority of people,” Skaggs said.
Golden disputed this, saying the number of those exposed was likely lower and the department would still be able to operate.
For now, Skaggs said, DVFD would be closed until April 21 when the CSD Board is scheduled to revisit the matter.
He said he was also working with the county to develop a testing site in the rural communities near Barstow, which could help determine whether the local fire responders will be fit to return to duty.
During a Facebook Live video on Tuesday, Chacon said she wished to address rumors “flying in Daggett” that she had been reckless or possibly endangered residents.
She said even when she had been in the community about two weeks before for the class, she had not experienced symptoms and was already practicing precautions.
As she lives in Riverside County, Chacon said her mostly administrative duties as assistant chief don’t typically require her to volunteer physically either.
“I know people are very scared and fearful. It is scary, this is a world pandemic,” she said in the video. “Fear can make people do crazy things. Fear can make people start the rumor mill and that’s very unfortunate.”
While wearing a face mask, Chacon said she couldn’t speak for long periods of time due to shortness of breath, but she told viewers if they contracted the virus, it was beatable.
“I get really tingly if I talk too long. Like right now, I feel like I’m already running a marathon,” Chacon said. “It’s not like the regular flu. You can work through it.”
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©2020 Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.