Quarantined CA Firefighters Returning to Duty

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ALAMEDA, CA — All eight Alameda firefighters who were quarantined after being exposed to the coronavirus have recovered and will soon be back on duty, city officials said.

Six of the firefighters were cleared to return to duty on Wednesday, city spokesperson Sarah Henry said. The other two have pending clearances and will be back on duty within a week.

The eight firefighters were identified as having been exposed to the virus by investigators from the city’s health department, after another firefighter tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. That firefighter remains under home quarantine outside Alameda County, Henry said.

“I am incredibly grateful to our first responders who continue to provide the same level of service in this difficult times,” City Manager Eric Levitt said in a statement, adding they were showing “an unyielding commitment to the health and safety of our community.”

The eight firefighters were checked by doctors in the counties where they lived, and the respective county health departments determined they were OK to be evaluated for work clearance.

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