Mayor Patrick Cooney said the current Fairview Park Fire Department firefighter, who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, is doing fine in a 14-day self-quarantine. “I was concerned for his condition and his family’s condition,” Cooney said. “All indications are he’s progressing. Also, I’m concerned about the other firefighters.”
As a precaution going forward, the fire department is splitting housing shifts between the fire station and the nearby senior center.
“That way, if somebody’s in close contact with someone who is infected, you only have one shift affected as opposed to the whole shift,” Cooney said. “Things change pretty rapidly -- the protocols or procedures.
“I applaud Chief (Anthony) Raffin for his quick response and the firefighters for their acceptance and putting the new station up and running very quickly. We’re fortunate how things were logistically close.”