When you have been around as long as Fire Chief Phil Hart has been in his capacity with the City of Bridgeport, it is hard to have something take place that takes you aback. It is a side affect of being on the job for 30 years.

 

Earlier this month, however, Hart had to pause at what was taking place. And it was the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“This individual situation and this pandemic situation are the most unique thing I’d have to say I’ve been involved with,” said Hart. “Even as much as we’ve been preparing for everything, the situation just caught me off guard.”

 

On a Saturday in early April, Hart heard from one of his staff, who was not working that day, that a family member was COVID-19 positive. After the initial shock, things began to move forward rapidly to try to mitigate the situation involving the staff member who will not be identified.

 

“The employee notified me that his wife had tested positive for it. We decided on the side of caution to send him to be tested,” said Hart. “He was tested, and it came back positive. It was a shock to us because he never presented any signs or symptoms of the illness.”

 

Hart said the employee also had no fever. The reason he knows that is that new protocols require the shift officers to take the temperature of those on each shift in the morning as well as at 7 p.m. They also have everyone fill out a questionnaire at the start of their shift.

 

“The last two shifts he worked he had no temperature,” said Hart. “Part of the problem with this is you can test positive and have no symptoms.”

 

Hart said even with a ton of policies in place and new policies and procedures being implemented daily, there was nothing on what to do if a person in a household of a member of staff tested positive. Hart said he asked the employee to be tested, and he readily agreed.

 

Hart said the first reaction was for the employee and his wife.

 

“When we got the news, the first thought goes to the health and safety of the employee and you just hope for a positive outcome,” said Hart.

 

The next thought was immediate.

 

“You then think about his co-workers. You immediately wonder if they were exposed because they all work together for a 24-hour period and where they sleep is a bunkroom, which is basically just one big bedroom,” said Hart. “I knew we had to get everyone tested on that shift.”

 

Seven members were tested. The good news was that all the tests came back negative. The bad news was that because the test can be negative and a person can still develop the virus for an extended period after exposure, all seven had to be on quarantine for 14 days

 

That meant one of the city’s three fire shifts was out of commission. Hart said his staff stepped up to make sure that was a problem.

 

“I wasn’t surprised at all that the other two shifts backfilled, and everything was covered. There were no complaints because this is what they do. They’re a great group of guys that knew it was possible and did what was already in place in the event it happened,” said Hart.

 

Hart said at the start of the pandemic, a meeting was held with himself and shift officer to come up with a game plan if a positive test took place. Hart said the plan was enacted and they also had backup plans in the event of other scenarios that could have (but fortunately did not) played out.

 

“We had a backup plan, and we had backup plans for the backup plan,” said Hart.

 

And they have plans and policies changing constantly. A new one as the result of this situation is that now it’s a requirement if someone in the household of a staff member tests positive that the individual has to be tested before returning to work as opposed to agreeing to be tested.

 

“I think everyone here would agree to be tested in that situation, but you have to have the policy to protect not only our employees, but the community we serve,” said Hart.

 

The good news is not new policies. It is not the negative tests.

 

The good news is that the firefighter in question has been cleared to return to work, and Hart said his spouse recovered too. Those under quarantine are also back to work.

 

“You’re thrilled to know they’re okay, particularly considered the firefighter in question has an underlying health issue. It is not an issue that impacts his work, but with this virus doing really bad things to people with those underly medical conditions, we know this could have been serious. We’re thankful it wasn’t,” said Hart. “We’re thankful that he had no signs or symptoms, and we’re also thankful the city had a jump on this.”

 

Hart said the idea to plan and have policies in place was a result of City Manager Randy Wetmore getting out in front of this. Hart said a jumpstart took place at a meeting March 11. Bridgeport administration and emergency service representatives from all of its agencies, the Harrison County Health Department, the Harrison County Office of Emergency Management, United Hospital Center, the Harrison County Board of Education, Clarksburg Fire Department and Clarksburg Police Department, the FBI, Homeland Security, the North Central West Virginia Airport and others were on hand.

 

“We’re fortunate that he called that meeting before it was declared a pandemic,” said Hart of the meeting that ironically took place the day it was called a pandemic by the World Health Organization. “Others had to arrange meetings after that, and we were able to walk out of there with a little bit of a jump.”

 

Hart said the jump was an advantage. He said he hopes no other fire department – and he does not believe there were any as of Wednesday – must deal with a similar situation with one of their own.

 

Here’s hoping Hart is right. And here’s hoping no one will have to do with this Coronavirus situation with one of their own.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows staff  members, from left, Firefighter/EMT Andrew Burns, Lt. Bob Moore, Firefighter/Paramedic Shawn Bourne, and Firefighter/EMT Jon Turner, back to normal during a Wednesday shift. Middle photo shows Hart at a fire last year, while Hart is shown, left, with Chief John Walker, middle and Clarksburg Police Chief Mark Kiddy during the March 11 meeting at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex. Middle photo by Ben Queen Photography.