Disgusting infestation forces firefighters to evacuate Bay Area station

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Key points

• This is not the time to be closing firehouses, Vice Mayor Frank Egger informed ABC 7.
• An eco-obsessed town in Northern California was forced to pause its strict pesticide ban after a disgusting flea infestation drove firefighters out of their sleeping quarters.
• The closure of the playground was confirmed on July 24 after a "significant flea infestation" and after parents documented children coming back home with flea bites.

Meanwhile, an eco-obsessed town in Northern California was forced to pause its strict pesticide ban after a disgusting flea infestation drove firefighters out of their sleeping quarters.

Meanwhile, the sickening invasion that began at Peri Park playground in Fairfax in late July spread to a nearby temporary fire station employed by the Ross Valley Fire Department, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

After a flea infestation was discovered, firefighters were living and working out of a building near Station 21 against the backdrop of renovations, but were forced to relocate to Station 20 in Sleepy Hollow, just a mile away.

"Emergency service is not interrupted – continue to call 911 as always, though response times to Fairfax will be somewhat longer while crews are stationed outside of town, " the town remarked in the announcement.

In practice, the closure of the playground was confirmed on July 24 after a "significant flea infestation" and after parents documented children coming back home with flea bites. It is believed that raccoons near the playground caused the incidents.

Crews first applied a non-toxic steam treatment due to a town ordinance banning the apply of pesticides, but afterwards resorted to pesticides after the Fairfax Council allowed the apply of the chemical substances in early August.

Although part of the playground reopened on Monday, the Town Council unanimously voted to grant another pesticide exception on Thursday so the inside of the fire station could be treated after fleas were discovered yet again, resulting in firefighters having to relocate to Staton 20.

"We're in high fire season. This is not the time to be closing firehouses, " Vice Mayor Frank Egger informed ABC 7.

Despite Egger's reservations, the mayor stated exceptions have to be created to "protect the people that are serving our community." Fairfax firefighters could return back as early as Monday.

In short, disgusting infestation forces firefighters to evacuate Bay Area station is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.