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<br /> <br />Roy Takemoto <br /> <br />Managing Director <br /> <br /> <br />Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br /> <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br /> Deputy Managing Director <br /> <br />County of Hawai‘i <br />Office of the Mayor <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 <br /> <br />August 5, 2020 <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />Hawai‘i County Fire Department Reports Firefighter Tests Positive for COVID-19 <br /> <br />nd <br />The Hawai‘i Fire Department reported on Wednesday that a Battalion Chief assigned to the 2 <br />Battalion headquartered at the Waikoloa Fire Station has tested positive for COVID-19. A total <br />of five personnel are currently self-quarantined as a precaution; all are asymptomatic. <br /> <br />The Battalion Chief, who also remains asymptomatic, took the COVID-19 test on Saturday in <br />compliance with pre/post travel requirements to O‘ahu. On Monday he received the positive test <br />result, and notified command. After notification of the positive result, the Fire Department <br />disinfected the entire Waikoloa Fire Station. Fire Chief Darren Rosario assures the community <br />that emergency responses will not be affected. <br /> <br />“All Fire personnel considered possible contacts will follow Department protocols and will <br />receive two COVID-19 tests over the course of this week and next week. They must receive <br />negative tests in order to return to work, following Department protocols,” Chief Rosario said. <br />The Battalion Chief remains in isolation, monitored by the Department of Health. <br /> <br />The Department offered separate living quarters at designated rentals for quarantined Fire <br />personnel, but the staff chose to self-quarantine at home. The Department’s Emergency Medical <br />Services Bureau provided care packages including masks, disinfecting products, and hand <br />sanitizers for the affected personnel’s homes. <br /> <br />“I am sincerely grateful for the responsible actions of our entire Big Island community towards <br />keeping COVID-19 off of our Island,” Chief Rosario said. <br /> <br /> <br />County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />