Written by Sasha Reva
About 134 San Diego Fire Department employees are in isolation due to COVID, which also includes 113 firefighters. It means that now there is a shortage of the employees who can work in emergency calls. The isolation policy is not working well and should be reconsidered.
Early on Sunday, the department received the email where it said that 113 firefighters, 15 lifeguards and six civilians tested COVID positive and would therefore have to self-isolate.
On Saturday, due to the shortage of employees, the department closed several units – Squad 55, Engine 201, Engine 11, Engine 20, Engine 21, Engine 40 and the bomb team.
As of Sunday, Squad 55, Engine 201, Engine 40 and the bomb team are remaining closed.
The updates from the Fire Chief Colin Stowell are going to be released Monday afternoon.
“At this time, the lifeguard positions have been covered using lifeguards working overtime so there are no operational impacts to lifeguard facilities. The same goes for the dispatch center,” SDFRD media services manager Monica Munoz wrote.
She also said that the “shutdowns may change day to day and there are specific criteria followed in determining which engine companies or units will be impacted” depending on the situation.
Photo Cred: City of San Diego
