Dover firefighter Tracy Zurfley takes off her mask after exiting the burn trailer at a training session for local female firefighters held in Green, OH Friday, June 21, 2024.
El Cajon, California – A disturbing incident at El Cajon Fire Station 8 has left four female firefighters and medics shaken after hidden cameras were found in their bunkrooms, raising serious concerns about privacy violations. The cameras, disguised as everyday objects, were discovered earlier this year, with one appearing as a phone charger and another camouflaged as a clock. Someone placed the hidden devices in areas where the women slept and changed clothes, violating their expectation of privacy in what should be a secure workplace environment.
The first camera was discovered in early February by a female emergency medical technician (EMT) who noticed the suspicious placement of a phone charger near the foot of her bed, an unusual spot for such a device. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the charger was a hidden camera. This led to the four women involved filing a legal claim, which accuses the City of El Cajon of failing to conduct a proper workplace investigation into the matter.
“This is the one place I always felt safe,” said Bella Mason, an EMT with American Medical Response (AMR). “To find out that I’ve been watched in a space where I sleep and change—it’s so violating.” Mason, along with three other women, is seeking damages for emotional distress, psychological treatment, and punitive action against the unidentified public employees involved.
Adding to the distress, a second camera was discovered in a different bunkroom, this time disguised as a clock. The discovery has understandably left the women on edge, as there are no current suspects, and the investigation appears have stalled entirely. The fire station, which serves as a joint powers agreement between El Cajon and La Mesa, is operated by the Heartland Fire & Rescue Department, while AMR provides the ambulance services. Neither the fire department nor AMR has offered comments on the investigation.
The women say little to no information about the status of any criminal investigation or workplace corrective action has been shared. They claim that despite the severity of the situation, the matter has not been adequately addressed, leaving them with a sense of vulnerability and mistrust among colleagues. Some have even requested transfers to different stations, though others refuse to leave the station they consider their “home.”
Attorney Dan Gilleon, who is representing the women, criticized the city’s lack of response, stating, “If you don’t investigate, you are not preventing it from happening in the future.” He also noted that the women are undergoing therapy due to the emotional toll the incident has caused.
As the investigation continues, the women are left in a state of uncertainty, fearing that someone is watching them at a place where they should feel safe. Their plea for answers remains unanswered, and they are now demanding accountability from the city and its employees.
