Main Fire Station Cleared of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs discovered at Clearwater Fire and Rescue’s headquarters downtown were removed and the living quarters were cleared for employees to return to it Monday afternoon.

City fire officials and the pest control company worked through the weekend using a high-heat treatment to the second floor, removing mattresses and box springs and bringing in new ones, said Rob Shaw, spokesman for Clearwater Fire and Rescue.

“The problem is considered cleaned up at the main station,” Shaw said in an email.

About a dozen firefighters were were moved to other parts of the building, but are expected to be back in their second-floor living quarters Monday.

The reason for the infestation is not known Shaw said to Bay News 9. 

Rescue workers go into homes and could have brought them back during a call. 

The main fire station does not have laundry facilities because it is an older building that lacks the necessary water and sewer hookups, Shaw said. However, firefighters may launder their belongings at five other fire department facilities, he said.

A new main fire station with this equipment is being built. These facilities are added to other stations as they are remodeled or updated, Shaw said.

A @clearwaterfdbedbug handle was created on Twitter the day the discovery was made. 

"I live, feed, sleep and breed at ALL #Clearwater fire houses thanks to the lack of action by the administration," according to the account's bio.

A dog trained to detect bed bugs was taken to all city fire stations Monday to make sure there are not problems elsewhere.