MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several Memphis firefighters, including an entire class of recruits, are under quarantine after potential COVID-19 exposure.
Lt. Wayne Cook with the Memphis Fire Department said one recruit tested positive and other members had been quarantined, per department policy.
The class has transitioned to online training and will continue field training when they return April 9, Cook said.
“The training academy was thoroughly sanitized this week and note that this does not affect our response capability,” he said.
Five MFD employees have tested positive for COVID-19, Memphis Firefighters Association President Thomas Malone said. He did not have exact numbers on how many firefighters were affected by quarantine.
Malone said none of the five firefighters with confirmed cases of COVID-19 contracted the virus during patient-care calls. All were from contact with a family member or friend, or travel off the job.
“Obviously we are going to do everything and treat them the same way we would treat any other employee,” Malone said.
Those firefighters should begin rolling off quarantine this weekend, he said.
Malone said the department is spraying down fire stations and the training center, and following all CDC guidelines.
The department is doing everything it can to make sure its employees, including the recruits, can go home to their families and do their jobs safely, he said.
“Our people are concerned,” Malone said. “They are concerned for their own safety and their family’s safety. They also know they are going to do the job they were hired to do.”
He asked people to not call 911 if it’s not an emergency. The department has to treat everyone as if they’re positive, he said.
“We’re business as usual, but we’re being more cautious on certain types of calls, just because of coronavirus,” Malone said.
