A flea infestation that began at a Northern California playground has spread to a temporary fire station, forcing firefighters to relocate and prompting town leaders to approve a second emergency pesticide exception.
The Fairfax Town Council unanimously voted Thursday to grant another exception to the town’s strict pesticide ban so the interior of the temporary fire station could be treated, according to an announcement from the town. Firefighters had been living and working out of a building near Station 21 in Fairfax amid renovations, but were forced to move to Station 20 in Sleepy Hollow, about one mile away, after a licensed pest control operator confirmed fleas inside the building on Wednesday.
“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 said in its Wednesday announcement. The three affected firefighters were relocated to ensure their safety while the infestation is addressed.
Vice Mayor Frank Egger expressed frustration about the timing of the crisis. “We’re in high fire season. This is not the time to be closing firehouses,” Egger said 7. His comments reflected growing concern about maintaining emergency response capabilities during a period of elevated wildfire risk across California.
Mayor Stephanie Hellman defended the decision to prioritize firefighter safety despite the operational disruption. Exceptions have to be made to “protect the people that are serving our community,” she said 7’s reporting on the council’s deliberations.
Ross Valley Fire Department Battalion Chief Jake Peterson said he was “highly worried” about the situation, according to The Dissent. The vote to approve the second pesticide exception was unanimous, and council members appeared impatient to resolve the problem quickly.
The town first announced the closure of Peri Park playground on July 24 after being “alerted to a significant flea infestation.” Parents had reported children returning home with flea bites after playing in the area. Town officials believe raccoons living beneath a nearby building caused the initial outbreak.
Workers initially attempted to address the problem using non-toxic methods due to Fairfax’s ordinance banning pesticides on public property. Building Official Mark Lockaby said 7 earlier in the crisis that crews planned to use a company that “steam cleans everything,” adding that “they’ll steam all the sand and chips, and that’s supposed to kill the fleas.”
The Fairfax Council approved the first pesticide exception on August 5, allowing limited chemical treatment beneath the fire station. A portion of the playground reopened on Monday after inspections found no fleas in the open area. However, the discovery of fleas inside the fire station living quarters this week forced officials to take more aggressive action.
In the viral moment that sparked national attention, the eco-conscious town of roughly 7,500 residents found its long-standing environmental commitment colliding with public health and safety demands. Fairfax has prohibited pesticide use on town property through its ordinance, with exceptions requiring a full council vote. The double exception in less than two weeks marks a significant departure from the town’s typical practices.
Pesticide companies were scheduled to begin spraying the fire station interior on Friday afternoon following Thursday’s council vote. Fairfax firefighters could return to their temporary quarters as early as Monday if the treatment proves successful and follow-up inspections clear the building.