Eight Western Mass fire departments have entered into a mutual aid agreement in the event more help is needed in combating the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the region. The coalition consists of fire departments in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Southwick, West Springfield, Westfield, and Wilbraham.
Westfield Fire Chief Patrick M. Egloff said Wednesday the mutual aid agreement has been put into place to keep departments properly staffed in the event fire personnel become infected with COVID-19.
“This allows us to use each other’s resources,” he said. “The most important thing we have is our people. The agreement is in place in case the fire department is decimated (by COVID-19).”
So far, the Westfield Fire Department has five confirmed cases among its ranks. All have either been quarantined or recovered, Egloff said.