CSRD emergency fire services remain, some changes during COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 24, 2020 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) wants to ensure residents that emergency fire service hasn’t changed since the COVID-19 outbreak.

CSRD Fire Services is taking calls for services, but firefighters are taking extra precautions when in the community, including frequent hand-washing, wearing personal protective equipment and respecting physical distancing.

Cleaning and disinfecting procedures have ramped up to ensure all firefighting equipment, trucks and fire halls are safe.

Last Tuesday, fire departments within the regional district ceased weekly practices to maintain social distancing. But CSRD says many of the volunteer firefighters “are veterans and have the necessary experience, despite missing practices.”

“Weekly practices are critically important to the fire department members to maintain skills and abilities. Thankfully, our firefighters have been training for many years to hone their craft. As a result of all this hard work, experience and dedication, our 13 volunteer departments are capable of taking several weeks away from practices without any fear of losing skills,” the CSRD release says.