Local firefighter lives in trailer for weeks to avoid exposing son to COVID-19

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A South King County firefighter spent six weeks away from his family and lived in a trailer in his station’s parking lot to avoid exposing his young son to COVID-19.

Doctors told Lt. Chris Mathis and his wife that their son, Barrett, who was born premature in 2018, cannot get a respiratory infection.

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Mathis’ wife is a registered nurse and doctors told the couple one of them should stay at home with their child, meaning Mathis would have to stay away.

“To keep (Barrett) safe … and to have one of us work, this (was) the best option we had,” Mathis told KIRO 7′s Ranji Sinha.

Mathis continued working while living in the trailer. He responded to fires, crashes and was even involved in rescuing a dog. He visited his wife at a distance at their home but went from March to May in the trailer.

Mathis said Barrett has had no problems so far but said another spike in cases could mean he returns to the trailer.

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“I know it’s an option for our family,” Mathis said. “If it spikes back up and things get worse again, I have no problem coming back up here and doing it again.”

Mathis’ wife is soon headed back to work and he acknowledged the exposure risks are still out there.

“If everyone does their part to stay safe, it keeps us safe and allows us to keep our family and continue doing our job to protect the community,” Mathis said.

Cox Media Group