Richburg Fire & Rescue Hit w/ COVID Cases, Chief Talks First Responder Challenges During Pandemic

RICHBURG, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – N95 Masks, gloves and other PPE are now part of a firefighter’s attire thanks to COVID.

“We make sure we use all the precautions we can”, says chief T Melton.

Chief T Melton with Richburg Fire and Rescue says even with all of the precautions, the pandemic has hit his department.

“This is the first time we’ve had a large amount of folks effected. The first year or so of this we’ve been fairly lucky”, says Melton.

Melton says he along with 4 other members of the department recently tested positive for COVID. Thankfully their symptoms have been mild. He says with both full time guys out, he’s having to heavily rely on his volunteers.

“When you’re a volunteer its hard to say, hey you have to go do this. So we are fortunate we have people who really care about the people and the job”, says Melton.

Melton says about 40 percent of their calls have some sort of COVID relation.

“In most cases when we respond to a residence, our dispatch can say if its a known COVID location but what you don’t know is when you go to these wrecks on the interstate, or when you go to a call that’s not at a person’s residence, you go to an industry, you don’t know the COVID background”, says Melton.

As his team continues to heal in isolation, he’s thankful for those who are keeping the department running until they can return.

“You’re always putting yourself in danger regardless. Whether its a fire, its a wreck, its a medical call. Doesn’t matter if you’re fire or EMS, situations can be dangerous. This just adds so much more to it because you’re exposing yourself to something that could effect your family”, says Melton.

Chief Melton says he and his other full-time employee plan to return Wednesday. He adds all of those who tested positive are fully vaccinated, including a booster shot.

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