Lambton County firefighters are not going to as many medical calls as usual.
But when they are, at least some of them are wearing a whole different type of uniform.

Across the county, the standards have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petrolia/North Enniskillen Chief Jay Arns says medical calls have for some time made up more about 80 per cent of the calls firefighters attend. Now, with new guidelines for COVID-19, medical assist calls are well below 50 per cent.

Right now, Arns says anytime firefighters go to any call, they put on surgical masks in the trucks since they are in close quarters and can’t be six feet apart.

At the scene, two members will dress in what is basically the fire department’s hazardous materials protective equipment and head into the building first to see what is going on.
“We treat it more like a haz-mat scene,” says the chief. Personal protective equipment is expensive and equipping two firefighters immediately and calling in others only if they are needed preserves their supplies, he says.

At a recent medical call on Petrolia’s main street, firefighters in haz-mat suits came out of the building and removed their equipment and tossed it into a garbage bag to be disposed of. Bleach wipes and sanitizer could also be seen nearby for the firefighters to make sure they followed protocols.

Even the way the department debriefs after an incident has changed; everyone stays well apart as they dissect what has happened at a fire or accident and what can be done better.

While the procedures are a little more time consuming and the situations more dangerous because of the possibilities of COVID-19, Arns says firefighters are still willing to serve.

“We put it out there at the beginning of this if anyone is not comfortable they should speak up,” he says noting some people have vulnerable family members to care for. “We were not mandating firefighters attend in any way shape or form. But everybody is still coming in for calls.”