Brookline Firefighter Shows Symptoms, Prompts Closure Of Station

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Fire Department temporarily closed one of its stations after a member of the department began to exhibit symptoms consistent with the new coronavirus, according to Chief John Sullivan.

The Fire Department has been conducting temperature checks on all of its on-duty members at the change of shift, per public health protocol. Monday morning a member, working at Station 5, had an elevated temperature at the end of his shift, went home and subsequently reported a further increase in their temperature.

"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," Sullivan said. "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."

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in its daily update four more people died from complications related to COVID-19, increasing the total to nine across the state.

The number of cases is now at 777 after 131 new ones were confirmed. Brookline had 13 cases as of Monday. Seventy-nine of the overall cases across the commonwealth required hospitalization.

The cases continue to increase by more than 100 a day since testing has expanded and the virus continues to spread. There have been 8,922 tests.

As a precaution, the department required the other seven members of the department who worked on shift with the symptomatic firefighter to self quarantine as the firefighter waits for COVID-19 test results. Additionally, four other members who had second-hand contact with that member have also been asked to self quarantine pending the firefighter's test results.

Station 5 was closed following the shift change Monday and will be re-opened later Tuesday after the station, equipment and apparatus are thoroughly disinfected. Two reserve companies were activated at 8 p.m. Monday and are being housed at other stations in town, ensuring the department was staffed.

As part of its adapted policies and procedures due to COVID-19, the department routinely checks the body temperatures of on-shift members at the beginning, middle and end of each shift.

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