12 Eugene-Springfield Fire members positive for COVID, not tied to any one station

Firefighters have always been at the heart of an emergency and ending it as soon as possible.

But as of late, the coronavirus has spread among different fire stations throughout the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department.

Twelve staff members have tested positive as of Thursday, but cases are not tied to any particular fire station.

“We’ve been over their plans and protocols and they’re very familiar and able to talk about those. But in terms of case identification and drilling down anymore facts on that, we’re not going to do anymore on that at this time,” said Public Information Officer Jason Davis with Lane County Public Health.

Davis says public risk to transmission is very low right now in general, but what happens behind closed doors can be risky. Cleaning and a rigorous sanitation has begun not once, but twice a day at all 16 fire stations.

“We clean the station at least twice a day. We have electric-static sprayers that can be used for cleaning apparatus as well as the stations and living quarters,” said JoAnna Kamppi, EMS Chief of the Eugene-Springfield Fire Dept.

She says the good news is that none of the first responders have been sent to the hospital; they are in various stages of recovery right now.

“Firefighters are humans, and sometimes we think they’re immune to certain things and the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate who it infects,” said Kamppi.

She says they’re heroes of our community and the helping hands that fought against the Holiday Farm Fire.

Eugene-Springfield Fire says they have been using PPE while on duty, and they are now taking extra precautions by wearing the gear at the station as well.