Firefighters quarantined: Will this be the new normal?
Kirkland, Washington firehouse closed and 25 firefighters under quarantine
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Only days into feeling the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the U.S. and there’s already a firehouse closed and 25 firefighters under quarantine. Will this be an anomaly or the norm with COVID-19?
I am sure many in fire and EMS across the country and around the world are watching the experience in Kirkland, Washington and figuring out how they would handle the same scenario in their own department. The weeks and months ahead are likely to be quite interesting.
Twenty-five firefighters from Fire Station 21 in Kirkland who helped ill patients at Life Care Center are now under quarantine as well as a precaution. Two Kirkland police officers who responded to Life Care Center are also under quarantine.
The city’s fire chief decided to make the call out of an abundance of caution.
Signs on the door of Fire Station 21 said no one should enter on Saturday and that the building itself was also under quarantine. City of Kirkland spokesperson Kellie Stickney said the firefighters are either staying home or in an undisclosed location.
