Local fire departments face more challenges as Coronavirus cases surge

Firefighters throughout the Coachella Valley respond to a number of calls daily, including potential Coronavirus patients. The daily routine has dramatically changed as crews take preventative measures to keep from exposing themselves and their patients.

"In April we ran 416 medical calls; May that jumped up to 543, June we ran 539. We have well over a 100 call increase just because of COVID-19. Just the first week of July as of the 7th, we’ve ran 128 calls," Cathedral City Battalion Chief Robert Allison said.

The department continues to see calls for medical emergencies. Allison said the increase has largely been related to Coronavirus.

"The fire department had 109 exposures and I believe that was up to the end of June, so we don’t have July’s numbers yet," Chief Allison said.

The department has transitioned its everyday protocols to increasing the amount of precautionary measures from one call to another.

"The guys wear their extra gear here as an outer layer of protection. When they come back to the station they take that gear off, they take their boots off, and we wear tennis shoes in the station after we sanitize the shoes, so we’re trying not to track anything into the station from a call we just ran on," Chief Allison said.

Crews also get their temperature checked, and answer a series of questions every morning before heading into work.

The department is documenting all responses to positive COVID cases. Allison said because of the measures taken to keep themselves safe, firefighters are not tested on every call. However, Allison said they are treating each call as if they can potentially be exposed.

"We’re not arbitrarily testing everybody on every call-- it’s only when they start coming down with symptoms," Chief Allison said.

Crew members who are tested, must wait at home until a test comes out negative. If it is positive, they must quarantine for 2 weeks.

Fortunately the department has not had any positive cases, according to Chief Allison.

"I think we’re doing an excellent job and we have a good group of guys in charge of overseeing the program."

Other valley crews are facing similar challenges with increased calls, and the having to take on additional safety routines.

The Palm Springs Fire Department currently has one firefighter in quarantine after testing positive with Coronavirus.

"I think we’re up to about 7 now that have had to quarantine for 2 weeks, waiting for results, waiting for them to get back to where they did have exposure," Palm Springs Fire Department Captain Nathan Gunkel said.

The department is also wearing personal protective equipment, goggles and face masks when they are called out.

"Twice a day prior to coming on shift we check all our vital signs. We check our signs and symptoms, we have a sign in sheet, we also do that at 8 o' clock at night-- that’s just to work. We have everything where we don’t wear boots or our clothes. We respond to calls, stay outside and change into different clothes before we go into living quarters; sterilizing everything after the calls," Capt. Gunkel said.

Gunkel said if a firefighter tests positive, they must quarantine for 10-14 days and test negative twice before returning to work.

With crew members having to stay at home to quarantine or await test results, there is a strain created not only on families but on firefighters that in turn must work overtime to supplement the work of the crew member on leave.

"It’s more work for the other guys, especially when we’ve been on station isolation where it’s just 3 firefighters to that station. They’re working a lot of overtime and more time away from their family; more stress. Firefighters are just like everybody else, we’re not immune to it. We have all the other added stresses-- family members that have lost their jobs, family members that are stuck at home, kids that can’t go to school," Gunkel said.

Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department firefighters have also tested positive for Coronavirus. The agencies would not disclose how many cases there were.

"Typically once employees are exposed and they suffer direct exposure and significant exposure with someone who we believe has COVID-19, based on the department of health recommendation, [those] are then placed in home isolation or quarantine for a period of anywhere from 10 to 14 days. They are monitored for symptoms," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Gad Amith said.

Amith acknowledged how difficult it is for firefighters having to respond to calls of potential COVID-19 patients.

"I think the strain is enormous. It takes a tremendous toll on first responders, the ongoing stress and fear, becoming exposed and managing patients who are severely ill," Chief Amith said.

The arrival of fire season has heightened the challenges, as crews are having to maintain social distancing while fighting fires. They have had to undergo training.

"Responding on calls, we’re responding to other departments-- mutual aid, other agencies, we’re wearing masks around them because we don’t know how they’ve been taking care of each other. We don’t know if they’re positive or not, so it’s trying to breathe through your mask, trying to climb up mountains, pulling hose-- it’s a lot of extra work for us," Capt. Gunkel said.