As first responders, members of the Sedona Fire District take precautions before, during and after a call that may be associated with a patient with COVID-19. But despite those safety measures, they have not been immune from testing positive for coronavirus.
During the Tuesday, Dec. 15, SFD Governing Board meeting, Assistant Chief Jayson Coil gave an update on COVID-19 and the district’s response.
“Everyone has been doing their best, but it’s super difficult with the rate of community-based transmission,” he said of staffing during the pandemic. “I think we’re in a good spot right now. We monitor it closely and I believe we’re in a good spot because the crews are being cautious and reporting everything that happens. That way we can have a conversation to figure out the right way to do something to ensure it doesn’t increase the impact on a shift.”
SFD Chief Jon Trautwein said the key to weathering the pandemic internally has been the diligence of the firefighters who have been following protocol.
“When you look at positivity rates across the state and country, it’s unrealistic to think that no one in the Sedona Fire District or their families is not going to be touched by it,” Trautwein said. “It’s a testament to our crews because this has been a marathon. We can’t be COVID-free because it’s everywhere. My hat’s off to them. They’re out there doing everything they can.”
Following the meeting, Coil confirmed that since the pandemic, 12 SFD firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19, eight of which have come since June. He said in all cases they exhibited some degree of illness, with three being worse than the others.
“That said, we have not dropped below mandatory staffing,” Coil said, “and it has not impacted our service to the community.”
When a firefighter has been quarantined at home for 10 days or more, other firefighters have taken over their shifts. The majority work 48-straight hours and then are off for five days, so in most cases, just one shift was missed and had to be filled.
Coil said it doesn’t appear that any of the 12 firefighters contracted it from someone in their station.
SFD firefighters have their temperatures taken daily, and any symptoms are monitored and tracked. In addition, firefighters are required to wear masks the entire time when they are around others at the station, and they now eat apart either outside or with the bay doors open.
“To the best of our knowledge, there was no spread from firefighter to firefighter,” he said. “It’s not known if anyone got it from patients, although we follow up after confirmed patient cases to make sure proper PPE was worn. So, no known patient-to-firefighter spread but plenty of exposure — especially recently.”
