Bermuda Fire Service Staffing Affected By Covid
The Bermuda Fire Service Association has spoken out about the challenges with staffing due to Covid-19, with multiple firefighters out due to Covid protocols.
Last night’s ZBM Evening News reported, “The Fire Service Association says it is alarmed over the current lack of manpower within the ranks of the Fire and Rescue Service.
“The highly infectious Omicron variant is to blame for the shortage that has already been blamed on the temporary closure of at least one fire station. The association told Bermuda Broadcasting News that response times to emergency calls have also been impacted. The Association is calling on the government to hire additional manpower.
“Firefighters have been particularly impacted by the Omicron Covid variant, with dozens of firefighters having to take sick leave within the past few weeks, leaving remaining personnel under tremendous pressure to keep to the services mandate,” ZBM reported.
Nakia Pearson, President of the Fire Service Association, told ZBM, “As of this past weekend, we had Clearwater station shut down due to Covid protocols affecting our members, some of them testing positive, others by way of being close contacts. As a result, people were sent home, which significantly reduced the manpower at that station. The following day, Port Royal station had to undergo the same circumstance, by which they were shut down due to Covid protocols,” adding that it is an “untenable position.”
The ZBM news report said, “The Fire Service Association says they’ve been in talks with management for a year over ways to bolster the ranks.”
Mr Pearson added, “Morale isn’t at the best, but we’re professionals at the end of the day and we will always make sure that we approach our career in a professional manner, we approach the community in a professional manner.
“So despite our challenges, we will always make sure that the community receives the absolute best possible care that we can provide. We’ll never let our morale affect our professionalism.”
Here we go again..
where do you draw the line? prance and tip toe around omicron symptoms in fear, and allow people to suffer and or die from other disasters? hmm lets see how smart ppl are
Just imagine how many fire fighters 1.2 or 800k Couldve employed.