San Francisco firefighters are still on duty, working shifts at the firehouse, responding to calls and conducting fire safety inspections. As part of an ongoing series of conversations with front-line workers, Civic spoke with local firefighter Adam Wood, who said firefighters are wearing protective equipment where possible, cleaning common areas and equipment three times a day and bracing for a spike in COVID-19 cases.
“In a fire situation, we’re pretty much stuck with the personal protective equipment we always use in fires, turnout gear, self contained breathing apparatus, which includes a full face mask with positive pressure air, so that’s something that would provide a certain degree of protection. N95 masks, gowns, face shields, you know, in a high-heat smoky condition they’re just not gonna work.” — Adam Wood
