Firefighters may have been fed contaminated food

Monday, Oct. 2, 2000 | 9:01 a.m.

Washoe District Health Department officials said tests show they became sick from the Norwalk virus, the same food-borne illness that struck about 600 guests and 400 employees at the Reno Hilton in 1996.

Nevada Division of Forestry spokesman Bob Ashworth said volunteers played a big role in feeding firefighters during the busy summer fire season.

The gastrointestinal bacteria, which can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea, spreads through the handling of food.

The health department is expected to make recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service on how to handle food at fires to control infection.

More than 300 firefighters fought the Arrowcreek fire in southwest Reno, which blackened more than 3,000 acres and damaged six homes.

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