Multiple Montville firefighters test positive for COVID-19

Mayor, fire marshal say coverage hasn’t suffered

Montville — Nine total firefighters in town — eight paid and one volunteer — have been exposed to COVID-19, and five of the nine have tested positive since Oct. 12.

Mayor Ron McDaniel said all the firefighters remain in isolation or under quarantine protocols until they’re able to safely return to work. He said the original transmission likely occurred on Oct. 12.

“All contacts we are aware of were notified. We remain staffed with paid firefighters and volunteers to maintain public safety,” McDaniel said.

With the town, along with 10 other municipalities, being deemed a “red zone” by the state last week due to a great number of daily COVID-19 cases, McDaniel said residents need to remain cautious and alert.

“The community spread is of obvious concern, and we encourage everyone to continue to practice best practice protocols of mask wearing, social distancing and personal hygiene/disinfecting,” McDaniel said.

He went into greater detail about COVID-19 cases among firefighters. He said on Oct. 14, Fire Marshal William Bundy was informed that an Oakdale Fire Co. volunteer member was symptomatic the day before and tested positive for the virus.

This volunteer firefighter was present at a company maintenance night on Oct. 12 and had direct contact with two paid staff, according to McDaniel.

After contact tracing, two full-time town firefighters tested positive for COVID-19, and two more were quarantined due to direct contact with people who tested positive, McDaniel said.

Oakdale Fire Co. Chief Micha Messer said the volunteer’s contact with other firefighters was

not on Monday night; it was over the course of two days. He added that he wasn’t sure the volunteer was the initial cause of the spread.

There was also contact with town staff who have since been quarantined and/or tested, McDaniel said. The other firefighters in quarantine are asymptomatic and have tested negative.

“The Fire Marshal reports that during this time there have been no gaps in station coverage by the paid staff,” McDaniel said. “Coverage is also complete with no gaps through next week, barring any further development. The Fire Marshal is working on the return to work procedures with those positive as well as those quarantined. We will have employees returning to work as early as this Sunday and will continue throughout the week as their shifts roll around. Again, we have had no gaps in paid staff coverage.”