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By Brian Konrad

10 members of platoon held back one night

MHFD platoon shift impacted while waiting for COVID 19 test result

Apr 26, 2021 | 12:10 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Fire Department had to isolate several members of a platoon this past weekend, as a precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The measure was taken while they waited for the results of a COVID-19 test for another employee.

Fire chief Brian Stauth says, “we held 10 people away from work, and brought nine people in to cover the shift.”

The fire chief says the action is part of the fire service’s overall plan to prevent the virus from spreading among the firefighters and their families.

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He says they need to be careful at all times because they have a limited number of reserves to call on if the service is hit by the virus.

Stauth says they were able to maintain staffing levels this weekend, but they must take care not to overload those people who are working extra shifts.

The test result did come back negative.

Stauth says precautions to prevent the spread of the virus include isolating crews during shift change to avoid contact, intensive cleaning protocols and following all physical distancing and masking requirements from Alberta Health Services.