CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — They are the first on the scene of an emergency and now, seven local firefighters have tested positive for the coronavirus.
They all work at the same fire department in Caldwell County.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty said most of the firefighters who tested positive had no idea they even had the virus because they didn’t show any symptoms.
Inside Sawmills Fire and Rescue, workers from SERVPRO disinfected every part of the fire department Friday. Channel 9 could see them around the fire trucks.
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“Most of the firefighters who have come back positive have had no signs or symptoms. They’ve had nothing. Which is a blessing but it’s also a little scary because if you have no signs or symptoms you may not know you’re spreading the virus," said Christy Bumgarner with Sawmills Fire.
The fire department has nearly three dozen volunteers. Firefighters believe many of the cases came from exposure outside the department from full-time jobs elsewhere.
Since March, every member has had their temperature checked as they enter the building. Every Sunday the building has been decontaminated and all meetings and gathering have been canceled until the end of June.
There are enough volunteers there to cover the shifts. Firefighters said what happened at the department is a reminder to the community about the spread of the virus.
“We’re still serving the community. And for everybody, this COVID-19 is not over with. This COVID-19 is still out there," said Battalion Chief Keith Gibbins.
The firefighters who tested positive can’t return until they have been cleared by the health department. Channel 9 was told for one, that’s already happened.
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