Unlike brightly illuminated flames seen at a burning home, an invisible enemy is prompting Brevard County Fire Rescue personnel to wear protective gear and follow new protocols during potential COVD-19 emergency calls.
Since early February, BCFR ambulance crews have responded to 71 emergency calls from people experiencing coronavirus-like symptoms, said Orlando Dominguez, EMS assistant chief.
The pace has increased. During the four-day stretch from Saturday to Tuesday, BCFR fielded 24 possible COVID-19 calls. That represents 34% of the total.
"There's a lot of folks that are scared. We were here before the pandemic. We're here during the pandemic. And we're going to be here for Brevard County residents after the pandemic," Dominguez said, standing inside an ambulance bay at Fire Station 46 in Cocoa.