Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Tensions Between Some Tahoe Residents and Wildlife Workers Become Unbearable

18 hours ago

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

19 hours ago

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

20 hours ago

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

21 hours ago

Trump Says Soros and His Son Should Be Charged With RICO

21 hours ago

Wall Street Opens Muted in Countdown to Nvidia Earnings

21 hours ago

Fresno Leaders Voice ‘Full Support’ for Pismo’s Restaurant Manager in ICE Custody

2 days ago

Poll: Katie Porter Holds Early Edge in California Governor’s Race

2 days ago

Just 38% of Americans Support Trump’s Use of Troops to Police DC, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

2 days ago

California Farming Couple Seeks $300 Million for Aspen Estate

2 days ago
When COVID-19 Hit, Firebaugh United to Squash It
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
May 28, 2020

Share

In early April, Firebaugh was a COVID-19 hot spot for positive cases and deaths.

Now the west-side farming town of 8,300 people is being cited by Fresno County health officials as a success story.

 “We’re gonna continue what we’re doing. We want to keep our numbers down and we don’t want to see a spike.” — Firebaugh Police Chief Sal Raygoza 

How is Firebaugh flattening the virus?

With teamwork that would make hometown hero and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen proud.

Communication, education, testing, social-distancing, free masks, and buy-in from businesses are playing major roles, too.

“Firebaugh was one of our very early clusters of a lot of cases including fatalities,” says Dr. Rais Voha, the interim health officer for Fresno County. “More recently, they’ve done really well at controlling their numbers. So that’s one example of a success story.”

Initial Surge, Initial Steps

Firebaugh went from zero to 15 cases in a matter of days early in the pandemic.

“Everybody, in the beginning, was reeling and didn’t know what to do, didn’t know about social distancing,” says Freddy Valdez, the city’s mayor pro tem.

Stakeholders made keeping people healthy their No. 1 priority. Everyone — including police, fire, and school leaders — united to work through the unknowns confronting Firebaugh.

City officials launched an educational campaign about the importance of social distancing, wearing masks, and not gathering in large groups.

Testing ramped up, and the city gave more than 1,000 masks to residents. One lady in town made masks and sold them for just $3.

And, Valdez posted a video from his kitchen on April 8 to underscore steps being taken to combat the virus.

https://www.facebook.com/286645725494034/videos/221303792418054/

Closures and Shorter Business Hours

“We shut down all the parks. Our rental halls were shut down. We also limited the amount of hours our businesses were open,” says Valdez.

Sal Raygoza, the police chief and director of emergency services, took decisive action after the initial surge in cases.

Raygoza, who has lived in Firebaugh for 25 years, has been with the department for 14 years and is a trustee for West Hills Community College District. Thus, he knows his city inside and out.

Police chief Sal Raygoza also assigned one of his officers to COVID-19 duty to ensure that businesses complied with the chief’s orders.

“I started controlling what time the stores were able to open and close. I only allowed open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Raygoza says. “Another thing that I did was (make it) mandatory to wear a mask in all the stores. All the employees had to wear a mask.”

Raygoza also assigned one of his officers to COVID-19 duty to ensure that businesses complied with the chief’s orders. All stores had to present their sanitation protocols to the COVID-19 officer for approval.

On Thursday, during an interview with GV Wire, Raygoza received reports of stores relaxing the mask requirement. The chief dispatched the COVID-19 officer to remind businesses that masks are “still required” even though Gov. Gavin Newsom is opening up the economy throughout California.

No New COVID Cases for Weeks

As of Wednesday, Firebaugh had its first COVID-19 case in nearly a month, raising its total to 23.

“But we held, I want to say, three to four weeks at 22,” Valdez says. “I believe we only have three active cases right now.”

Valdez believes that educating residents on why things were being done, rather than handing down rigid rules, is helping control the virus.

“It’s not like we’re doing something magical that no one else is doing,” Valdez says.  “I just think that we’re enforcing it a lot more positively, and we’re getting community buy-in. We all are in this together.”

Early Reopenings for Barbershops, Hair Salons

Because of the cooperation of residents and business owners, the city’s barbershops and hair salons opened ahead of others in California.

“It was successful,” Valdez says. “We did it for a few days just to see if they were capable.”

Annual Harvest Festival

Valdez holds out hope that Firebaugh can still hold its annual harvest festival. The town’s economy revolves around growing and packing cantaloupes, honeydews, tomatoes, and garlic.

The festival normally takes place in July. These are not normal times.

“Maybe in September,” Valdez says. “So, as a council, we didn’t want to really shut the door on that yet.”

‘Success Story’ Label

How does Raygoza, the police chief, feel about Firebaugh receiving praise for its handling of the coronavirus?

“If they’re using as an example, I think that’s good that they’re doing that. But I think we’re just doing what’s right for our community. Every community is different.

“We’re gonna continue what we’re doing. We want to keep our numbers down and we don’t want to see a spike.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Israeli Official Accused of Nevada Sex Crime Ordered to Appear in Court via Zoom

DON'T MISS

Think You Can’t Afford College? Go Online and Get a CalKIDS Scholarship

DON'T MISS

US CDC Director Ousted Weeks Into Job

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Mario Garcia

DON'T MISS

Shooter Kills Two Minneapolis Schoolchildren in Church, Injures 17

DON'T MISS

Did Fresno Restaurateur Bobby Salazar Commit Arson? Feds Lay Out Their Case

DON'T MISS

Hanford Police Arrest Two Teens After Shootouts Leave 17-Year-Old Wounded

DON'T MISS

US CDC Director Being Ousted Weeks Into Job, Washington Post Reports

DON'T MISS

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar Says There Will Not Be a Palestinian State

DON'T MISS

All UN Security Council Members, Except US, Say Famine in Gaza Is ‘Man-Made Crisis’

UP NEXT

Trump’s Tax Bill Expands 0% Capital Gains Eligibility in 2025

UP NEXT

Second-Highest Unemployment Rate Still In California

UP NEXT

Trump Holds Gaza Policy Meeting With Blair and Kushner, White House Official Says

UP NEXT

Commercial Vehicle Fire Closes Southbound I-5 Near Grapevine

UP NEXT

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Man Arrested for Throwing Sandwich at US Agent, Source Says

UP NEXT

Planned Visit by US Envoy Sparks Protests in Southern Lebanon

UP NEXT

Tensions Between Some Tahoe Residents and Wildlife Workers Become Unbearable

UP NEXT

California’s Environmental Agency Investigated by US Justice Department

UP NEXT

California Republican Leader Calls for ‘Two State Solution’ Amid Redistricting Fight

UP NEXT

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Mario Garcia

13 hours ago

Shooter Kills Two Minneapolis Schoolchildren in Church, Injures 17

14 hours ago

Did Fresno Restaurateur Bobby Salazar Commit Arson? Feds Lay Out Their Case

14 hours ago

Hanford Police Arrest Two Teens After Shootouts Leave 17-Year-Old Wounded

14 hours ago

US CDC Director Being Ousted Weeks Into Job, Washington Post Reports

14 hours ago

Israeli Foreign Minister Saar Says There Will Not Be a Palestinian State

14 hours ago

All UN Security Council Members, Except US, Say Famine in Gaza Is ‘Man-Made Crisis’

15 hours ago

Trump’s Tax Bill Expands 0% Capital Gains Eligibility in 2025

15 hours ago

Second-Highest Unemployment Rate Still In California

16 hours ago

Trump Holds Gaza Policy Meeting With Blair and Kushner, White House Official Says

16 hours ago

Israeli Official Accused of Nevada Sex Crime Ordered to Appear in Court via Zoom

An Israeli official accused of trying to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex outside Las Vegas has been ordered to appear via videolink next wee...

12 hours ago

The flag of the U.S. state Nevada is seen in this illustration taken, August 21, 2024. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
12 hours ago

Israeli Official Accused of Nevada Sex Crime Ordered to Appear in Court via Zoom

13 hours ago

Think You Can’t Afford College? Go Online and Get a CalKIDS Scholarship

Susan Monarez, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 25, 2025. (Reuters File)
13 hours ago

US CDC Director Ousted Weeks Into Job

Mario Garcia is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for August 27, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
13 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Mario Garcia

Law enforcement use K-9 dogs to search a nearby neighborhood, after a shooting at Annunciation Church, which is also home to an elementary school, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. August 27, 2025. REUTERS/Tim Evans
14 hours ago

Shooter Kills Two Minneapolis Schoolchildren in Church, Injures 17

Bobby Salazar motorcycle gang fire restaurant Blackstone fresno insurance fraud
14 hours ago

Did Fresno Restaurateur Bobby Salazar Commit Arson? Feds Lay Out Their Case

A 17-year-old boy was shot and wounded in Hanford, and police arrested two juvenile suspects in connection with the shootings. (Hanford PD)
14 hours ago

Hanford Police Arrest Two Teens After Shootouts Leave 17-Year-Old Wounded

Susan Monarez, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 25, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

US CDC Director Being Ousted Weeks Into Job, Washington Post Reports

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend