Orient Fire District Members Quarantine After Meeting: Chief

ORIENT, NY — The Orient Fire Department has limited access to fire department property after a person who attended a recent Orient Fire District meeting tested positive for the coronavirus, Orient Fire Chief Mike Prindle said.

According to Prindle, the district had their monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 2o, a mandatory yearly budget meeting. The following day, a district member, who is not a member of the Orient Fire Department, tested positive for COVID-19, he said.

"After learning this, the district and chiefs did everything required for those who attended the meeting and got all the information out to the entire OFD membership," Prindle said.

A total of 12 individuals attended that meeting, fire officials said.

The New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County Fire Rescue Services and the Department of Emergency Services were all notified and COVID-19 testing was offered to all who attended the meeting including chiefs, firefighters, district officers and district employees, officials said.

No members of the Orient Fire Department attended a wedding at the North Fork Country Club that led to positive coronavirus tests and a 14-day closure, despite some speculation in the community, the chief added.

Prindle, who was not at the district meeting, in his role as chief of the fire department, canceled all trainings and activities as a precaution; the buildings and all equipment were professionally cleaned, he said.

"I am limiting access to the fire department property; members can respond for all emergency calls," he said. "But mandatory PPE, masks, gloves and social distancing must be followed as best as possible during emergencies."

The firehouse was never closed but Prindle said he took extra precautions to protect members and the community; those who were at the meeting were required to quarantine for 14 days.

Most who attended the meeting and all tests taken so far have come back negative but still, anyone who attended the meeting must quarantine for the full 14 days, Prindle said.

"The Orient Fire Department Chiefs take great pride in protecting our community and membership," Prindle said. "In these crazy times, it seems information gets twisted and made out to be worse than it is. No positive case of COVID is good. In my community,I would hope people would reach out to their OFD Chiefs for accurate information, as many know me personally. This would help stop the spread of rumors. We are here to help protect them and assure them with correct information to ease their minds. We are here 24/7 to protect Orient residents," Prindle said.