NEW ROCHELLE – The COVID-19 pandemic in New York has largely been considered to have originated in New Rochelle in early March. The fast-spreading virus has attacked the New Rochelle Fire Department, forcing the quarantining of dozens of career firefighters yet the first responders are still keeping the state’s seventh-largest city safe.
The city’s fire department has 156 firefighters and a large portion of the department has been exposed to the virus and subsequently quarantined, according to Fire Chief Andrew Sandor. In all, 110 firefighters have been quarantined, thirty-two have tested positive for the virus and two have been hospitalized. Of the pair hospitalized, one has been discharged while the other is on a ventilator.
Captain Sean DeNigris is the president of the New Rochelle firefighters union, UFFA Local 273 and also serves as a vice-president for the New York State Professional Firefighters Association (NYSPFFA). As a result of both positions, DeNigris represents all career firefighters in Nassau, Putnam, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. The captain calls the pandemic “A hazmat call that is going to last for two years,” adding “Even the most seasoned professional firefighters have never encountered a scenario of this magnitude.”
Chief Sandor said that the city has taken additional steps to protect the firefighters, including thorough cleanings of the stations and equipment as well as requiring masks to be worn by his staff. When responding to calls for medical assistance, Sandor said they are now wearing full protective gear (PPE) and practicing “doorway triage” where personnel will assess the situation to determine if anyone is symptomatic or has tested positive, prior to treatment. DeNigris agreed, saying “The department is doing what they can,” but said that additional assistance should be coming from the federal level. “The feds need to distribute supplies such as masks and other PPE based on the number of cases in an area.” The current distribution system has resulted in “bidding wars” between agencies, resulting in equipment going to areas that don’t necessarily require the gear.
Captain DeNigris stressed the need to follow the guidelines for social distancing as much as possible. “Professional firefighters spend a considerable amount of time in close proximity to each other, especially when in the rigs traveling to and from calls. Most firehouses don’t have adequate space to maintain the recommended distancing, but we’re doing our best to take precautions. Our members are wearing their masks in the firehouse, washing hands frequently, and disinfecting the station as time allows.” DeNigris and his coworkers are encouraging the public to adhere to the recommended mask and distancing guidelines to keep themselves and the firefighters safe. “Firefighters are going to continue to protect life and property of everyone that needs us but we are sharpening our risk analysis on every call to minimize the threat to us and those we are protecting.”
