Fort Wayne first responders say they're taking extra precautions to prevent COVID-19 spread

Fort Wayne emergency personnel attempt to keep themselves protected from the virus while continuing to serve the community.

Covid 19 hasn't stopped front line workers from helping during emergencies... fox 55's mallory beard is live at the fort wayne fire station in downtown to tell us how first responders are protecting themselves from the virus too.

3 deputy chief adam o'connor//fwfd pio "it's been a challenge, but my people are rising to the occasion so i think we're going to be fine."

Fort wayne fire department deputy chief adam o'connor says his staff quickly adjusted to the covid-19 pandemic... but not without challenges.

Adam o'connor//fwfd pio "first it was the ppe.

All the major suppliers immediately any distribution except for to the federal government in march."

He says forty nine firefighters had to be quarantined in september for precautions.

The most drastic gap in staffing since the pandemic hit fort wayne.

Adam o'connor//fwfd pio "we had one or two firefighters that were positive.

They worked at bigger stations like this that have 8 firefighters, and they put a lot of people on quarantine."

O'connor says the department has used ten thousand sets of protective coveralls since march.

Just one of many adjustments local first responders have made because of covid-19.

Adam o'connor//fwfd pio "his n-95 mask to protect his lungs, his goggles to protect his eyes.

And he's gonna wear gloves like he would for every other patient."

Fort wayne police deparment's sofia rosales- scatena says many officers are concerned for their loved ones at this point.

Sgt.

Sofia rosales scatena "i don't think we really think about ourselves at this point.

What are we taking home to our children to our wives, husbands, significant others...to our parents?"

She says almost 30 officers have tested positive for the virus.

Sgt.

Sofia rosales scatena "we've only had a handful of people with serious symptoms and health complications."

But most have returned to work healthy within a couple of weeks.sgt.

Sofia rosales scatena "we have had a little bit of staffing.

We're able to cover it at this point.

We're not in any kind of dire...but it is something we do have to consider in our staffing levels and in the types of reports that we do."

Fort wayne police's sofia rosales-scatena says officers will continue to show up on priority calls, but they ask for the public's cooperation if a report needs to be handled over the phone for safety and staffing purposes.

Reporting live in fort wayne i'm mallory beard, fox 55 news.