Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Firefighters say coronavirus will obstruct emergency service, evacuations as wildfire season closes
Here's an article from April 5th that elevates the worries that have been percolating in my brain the past couple weeks...
First responders are preparing for raging wildfires that they expect will consume thousand of acres and drive some residents from their homes in upcoming months.
But this year, preparations have stalled. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the country’s already strained emergency services, raising concerns over inadequate disaster relief during peak fire season.
Firefighters across the country are ill or under quarantine. Others worry they’ll contract the virus in crowded base camps during wildfire outbreaks. And fewer personnel will be available for emergency calls since the public health crisis has delayed new hiring and training.
<snip>
There’s also a high risk for contagion for residents who are evacuated during wildfires. After Camp Fire ravaged the city of Paradise, victims taking refuge in several shelters near the city were sickened from a norovirus outbreak.
“The evacuation shelters pack hundreds, sometimes thousands of people into a school or gymnasium,” Lanzas said. “Having that many people gathered into a tight space ... it’s a hot bed for disease spread.”
But this year, preparations have stalled. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the country’s already strained emergency services, raising concerns over inadequate disaster relief during peak fire season.
Firefighters across the country are ill or under quarantine. Others worry they’ll contract the virus in crowded base camps during wildfire outbreaks. And fewer personnel will be available for emergency calls since the public health crisis has delayed new hiring and training.
<snip>
There’s also a high risk for contagion for residents who are evacuated during wildfires. After Camp Fire ravaged the city of Paradise, victims taking refuge in several shelters near the city were sickened from a norovirus outbreak.
“The evacuation shelters pack hundreds, sometimes thousands of people into a school or gymnasium,” Lanzas said. “Having that many people gathered into a tight space ... it’s a hot bed for disease spread.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-will-obstruct-emergency-services-for-firefighters-during
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
