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Two positive COVID-19 tests have led to the quarantine of 45 Indiana firefighters.
The nearly four dozen Fort Wayne firefighters who were exposed to the infected members worked across multiple shifts, WFFT-TV reports. The firefighters must remain quarantined for two weeks from when they were exposed.
In order to deal with the staffing shortage, the department is offering optional overtime to firefighters who weren't exposed. The overtime will only become mandatory if a fire station needs to be closed.
"Public safety will not be compromised and the FWFD will continue to provide lifesaving care and responses," a city spokeswoman said in a statement, according to WFFT. "Five of the 18 fire stations have two apparatus available, but if there is not enough manpower at a particular station, sometimes only one apparatus will be in service for an emergency run."
