Four firefighters test positive for COVID-19 while battling Cameron Peak Fire

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A fourth firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus while battling the Cameron Peak Fire, according to a Thursday statement from the incident management team.

Our partner 9News reports that the latest firefighter tested positive on Thursday whereas the three other firefighters had confirmed tests last week.

The forward operating base where the most recent positive-testing firefighter worked at was closed down. Firefighters had been working at smaller bases as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Health officials initially said all 184 people living and working at the base had been in contact with the positive individual, but are now reporting that the number was reduced to 25 on Thursday.

“It’s possible that some of the 25 were not in contact long enough to be considered exposed per county guidelines,” the incident management team wrote in a news release.

Larimer County health officials are still determining who should be quarantined and placed in isolation. The Colorado National Guard Rapid Response Team will conduct testing at the site.

Firefighters who may have come into contact will be tested and may continue to work on the fire line if the test comes back negative.

The Cameron Peak Fire started on August 13 and is estimated to be burning 23,903 acres. The blaze is six percent contained with a total of 840 personnel working on extinguishing the flames.

The firefighter who most recently tested positive for COVID-19 was not in contact with the public, the news release read.