Brown recluse bite prompts clearing and fumigating of E-Town fire station

Fire crews in Elizabethtown are returning to their station Thursday after a bite from a brown recluse spider prompted the closing of it last week.

According to a statement from the city, a firefighter received the bite on April 29 and was seen at an occupational health clinic the next day. The firefighter was released after being seen by a medical professional. After discovering the bite came from a brown recluse, shifts at the fire station were moved to another station. The city says: “They have continued to respond to calls throughout the city in a normal response time.”

Professional exterminators treated the fire station with spraying, fogging, and dusting of the entire facility. The exterminators said crews were cleared to return to the station on Wednesday, but waited until Thursday out of an abundance of caution.

The Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky says” “Although brown recluse spider bites are rare, the venom can sometimes cause serious wounds and infestations should be taken seriously.” If you suspect a brown recluse spider bite, apply ice, elevate the affected area, and seek medical attention immediately.