Fire Chief Mark Lee updated Mayor Scott LeMay and the City Council on the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Garland’s fire department at the April 6 work session.
According to the chief, there are:
4 positive cases – one person is in hospital and three are recovering or recovered. Three are from the same station.
4 people experiencing symptoms – There are two people with COVID-19 symptoms who had negative results. Both are currently fever-free. One is from the same station as the three above.
32 high-risk exposures – defined as unprotected with close prolonged contact– Exposed to COVID-19 positive case in the department. 13 of these are from one station, 19 from the other station
23 medium-risk exposures – people have been exposed to positive cases – with one possible breach in protection.
63 – total – are in some form of isolation.
There are also 38 existing low-risk exposures.
Mitigation efforts in place:
- More detailed dispatch screening
- Use PPE on fever, cough, shortness of breath calls and known addresses of existing cases
- Use of reserve ambulances outfitted for COVID-19 suspected cases
- Symptom and fever checks on all FD personnel twice per shift
New mitigation efforts that have been added:
- Shift changes are no longer face-to-face
- Social distancing being practiced inside firehouses
- Mandatory use of N95 facemasks
- Daily decontamination of firehouses
- Full PPE being used on all medical calls
- Working on reduction in aerosol-generating procedures
The chief praised the work ethic of the GFD employees.
“You’ve got some of the most dedicated servants putting the community before self that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Chief Lee said. “I’ve never been prouder to be part of an organization as I am to be part of the Garland Fire Department.”
He added that they are ready to do their jobs and that there is a willingness to work extra hours. Lee also said that the support from the City Council and staff has been amazing.
LeMay said that he knew that first responders were going to get sick but that these numbers “break his heart.”
Council Member Rich Aubin said that fire department employees are going above and beyond and expressed gratitude.
Council Member Jerry Nickerson agreed.
“It’s pretty eye-opening to really see the kind of risk that you guys run and do it really willingly,” he said. “There is just no way that I can express the gratitude and thanks that I want to give to you guys and how much I think of everybody out there…and with the police as well.”