Name: New Braunfels left with a nearly $20K tab after firefighters cause damage in hotel during quarantine
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New Braunfels left with a nearly $20K tab after firefighters cause damage in hotel during quarantine

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Posted: Jul 15, 2020 / 10:57 AM CDTUpdated: Jul 16, 2020 / 12:27 PM CDTNEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) — Three firefighters have been disciplined and another has resigned after drinking and causing water damage to a hotel back in April, a city spokesperson says.In an email to KXAN, New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno says the four firefighters were asked to quarantine after being potentially exposed to COVID-19 while responding to a medical emergency.Camareno says they were given the option to quarantine at a hotel “in order to avoid exposure to family and friends.”That’s when he says “alcohol was consumed and water damage occurred to the hotel.”According to city policy, he says the firefighters were still considered to be on duty at the time.Camareno says the water damage was caused by an overflowing bathtub “and it has since been determined to have been caused accidentally.”“The city reacted quickly by immediately working with the hotel to reach a solution regarding repairs to their facility and to address the conduct of city personnel,” Camareno wrote.He says the city has paid about $19,775 for hotel repairs.The Texas Municipal League also paid an additional $10,000 through their risk pool, Camareno says.He says the firefighter responsible for the damage resigned before city administration completed their investigation.Camareno says the other three firefighters have since received disciplinary action.In a follow-up email on Thursday, city spokesperson David Ferguson said one firefighter received a one-day suspension, one firefighter received a two-day suspension, and the fire officer that was involved received a 10-day suspension.Ferguson also said the first responders didn’t use proper personal protective equipment when responding to the initial call that required them to go into quarantine.“The firefighters were wearing PPE at the medical emergency but it was not the appropriate PPE for a possible COVID response. This resulted in a possible exposure to COVID-19. Proper PPE was available and the failure to use it was considered when determining disciplinary action,” Ferguson wrote.Ferguson further clarified that the hotel where the incident happened was Courtyard by Marriott New Braunfels River Village.&nbsp;“We continue to have a positive relationship with the hotel and worked collaboratively to resolve this issue,” he stated.“The choices made by these firefighters are disappointing, but those actions should not reflect on the culture, professionalism, and commitment of the New Braunfels Fire Department or the City of New Braunfels.&nbsp;&nbsp;All matters in this incident have been resolved and no further action will be taken,” Camareno told KXAN News.When asked if there would be any changes to protocol as a result of this incident, Ferguson said there would not.“No protocols have been adjusted; existing protocols are sufficient. The employees exercised poor judgment and the City addressed it. We did however, provide more information to the entire department on being quarantined and being on-duty versus off-duty,” he wrote.New Braunfels says a total of 34 first responders have had to quarantine and eight of them chose to do so at a hotel.Austin offers a similar option. So far, 37 public safety personnel from all around Central Texas have spent quarantine time at the city’s isolation facility.Thanks for signing up!Watch for us in your inbox.Subscribe NowThanks for signing up!Watch for us in your inbox.Subscribe Now✕× Close Ad

Posted: Jul 15, 2020 / 10:57 AM CDTUpdated: Jul 16, 2020 / 12:27 PM CDTNEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) — Three firefighters have been disciplined and another has resigned after drinking and causing water damage to a hotel back in April, a city spokesperson says.In an email to KXAN, New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno says the four firefighters were asked to quarantine after being potentially exposed to COVID-19 while responding to a medical emergency.Camareno says they were given the option to quarantine at a hotel “in order to avoid exposure to family and friends.”That’s when he says...

New Braunfels left with a nearly $20K tab after firefighters cause damage in hotel during quarantine

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