17 Clayton firefighters test positive for COVID-19. Here’s how you can help.
A COVID-19 outbreak has led to 17 Clayton firefighters testing positive for the disease, with three firefighters currently being hospitalized, the town announced Saturday.
The first sick firefighter led to four others on the same shift testing positive, resulting in the 17 cases among all three shifts, the town said in a news release Saturday. It’s taxing the resources for the Johnston County community, which has 41 full-time firefighters and calls in part-time personnel to help fill the gaps.
The remaining healthy firefighters are “gladly filling in shifts, and they haven’t missed a single beat in responding to calls,” according to Clayton Fire Chief Lee Barbee.
“We aren’t saying this to garner sympathy or to bring unwanted attention to our fire families, but simply for the public we serve to know — we’re taking all the necessary precautions to prevent further spread, to stay healthy and to remain ready to respond when you need us most,” Barbee said in a news release.
The first firefighter reported being sick two weeks ago, but Barbee said health officials have been unable to trace how they were first infected. Fourteen full-time firefighters and three part-time firefighters tested positive, according to Stacy Beard, a town spokeswoman.
The fire department has taken precautions, such as disinfecting the station daily and maintaining social distancing.. But Barbee said social distancing is hard to do when responding to emergencies, such as medical calls and car accidents when firefighters come into close contact with patients who may have COVID-19.
Those firefighters still healthy enough to work are now living under isolated conditions to maintain social distancing. They have to wear face masks at the fire station whenever they’re not alone in a room.
“They don’t eat at the table together anymore — they eat alone,” Barbee said. “The bunk rooms they share have now been moved and only one person sleeps in a room. That means some sleeping in the training room or the small gym room.”
The outbreak is also leading to unexpected reactions when they encounter the public.
“Some have commented that they sense a subtle change in the way the public is reacting to them when they see them out in uniform…it’s not intentional and it’s understood in this time of uncertainty,” Barbee said.
During this time, Barbee said firefighters and their families, both those who are healthy and who are sick, need the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
“We can’t name the employees at this time, but we can tell you their loved ones are worried and hurting,” Barbee said. “Right now, the families haven’t asked for anything specifically — only to know their community is behind them and holding them up their prayers.”
