(Publisher’s Note: As we approach the one-year mark for the coronavirus pandemic, the staff at LEDE News will take a look back this coming week at some of the articles that have been published concerning the issues experienced in the Upper Ohio Valley.)
More than five Wheeling firefighters spent a few evenings at Wesbanco Arena last week while quarantining after possible exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Fire Chief Larry Helms explained the firefighters were forced into isolation at the facility after responding to calls for medical assistance.
“We did have some possible exposures from multiple calls, and six of our guys had to quarantine after they were tested for COVID-19,” Helms revealed on The Watchdog (98.1 FM WKKX and 97.7 FM WVLY). “Our concern has been from the start about our firefighters and trying to keep them as safe as possible, and another concern is that not too many firefighters get sick at the same time. We only have so many people to do the jobs that we do.
“We did do the quarantine for those guys out of precaution. None of them reported any symptoms, and thankfully we did get the results back on them in just a few days, and everyone was healthy and relieved,” he said. “But that’s what we have to do immediately so we can keep the residents of Wheeling safe, and so we can keep each other safe.”
On the Floor?
Wesbanco Arena is a facility that not only features the main level where everything from hockey games to high school graduations take place, but the building also features separate areas for meetings and dining. The quarantined firefighters were lodged in the area where Generations does business during events, a space that is in close proximity to the locker room area utilized by the Wheeling Nailers.
“Some of the guys did quarantine at home because they could, but several of them quarantined at Wesbanco Arena,” Helms reported. “We set up an area where the club area is for the events there, and it seemed to be pretty comfortable for them with the beds, the food we were dropping off to them, and with all of the big screen TVs that are down there.
“Denny (Magruder) really set them up, that’s for sure,” he continued. “They had access to everything that they needed, and fortunately they were there for only a few days before their results came back negative. We’ve been blessed because other fire departments across the country have been hit pretty hard.”
A Public Building
Anyone who knows the longtime general manager of Wesbanco Arena is well aware that Magruder has always been a team player when it comes to the Wheeling community. Not only has he been the GM since the early 1980s, but he has opened the building for public use every time a need has arisen.
“Our first responders have worked out of the arena on several occasions since I have been here, and that includes floods and other emergencies that we have had in this area,” Magruder explained. “When the phone rings and I am told there is a need, my only question is, ‘When will you be here?’
“The arena is a public building. It’s the people’s property, and that’s something which is very important to me and to the members of our staff,” he said. “I recall when we had all of that flooding that took place in the Valley back in 2004, and we had so many different agencies that were staging the relief efforts on our arena floor. We’re just happy to be here so we can help.”
The Nailers were unable to finish the ECHL regular season because of the pandemic, and all other scheduled events at Wesbanco Arena have been canceled during the last month. The future schedule, Magruder said, depends on the directives issued by W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice.
“Just like everyone else, we’re in a holding pattern right now,” he said. “We are still working here and from home depending on what needs done, but as far as the future is concerned, it’s all about keeping people safe. That’s all we care about right now.”
