BROOKLINE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Brookline Fire Department has temporarily closed one of its stations as a precaution after a member of the department began exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Temperature checks were conducted on all on-duty members Monday morning during a shift change. One member, working at Station 5 on Babcock St., had an elevated temperature and went home. They later reported a further increase in their temperature.
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As a precaution, 11 other members of the department who worked the same shift or had second-hand contact with the symptomatic member were asked to self-quarantine pending the results of the symptomatic member's COVID-19 test.
Station 5 was closed following the shift change and will re-open on Tuesday after the station, equipment, and apparatus are disinfected.
Two reserve companies were activated at 8 p.m. Monday and are being housed at other stations in town, ensuring the department is appropriately staffed.
"While we can't say for sure right now whether our member has contracted this illness, there's no doubt that our members -- and first responders everywhere -- are on the front lines of the fight against this pandemic," Chief John Sullivan said in a statement. "We have introduced several policy and procedure changes meant to protect our firefighters and residents alike as we continue to serve the community during this challenging time."
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