The first state-operated drive-thru test site for COVID-19 opened Monday to first responders and health professionals at a repurposed vehicle emissions test building on the Northwest Side. The Illinois National Guard will test 250 people on a first-come, first-served basis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. The "soft opening" at 6959 Forest Preserve Drive, near Harlem Irving Plaza, is currently for medical personnel and first responders, Illinois National Guard spokesman Bradford Leighton said in an email. State officials couldn't say if the site will later test the public. Leighton said about 115 Illinois National Guard members work at the Harwood Heights Community Testing Site.  

Workers at a local distillery aren't sitting back after being told to close during the new coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they're turning their alcohol into hand sanitizer free of charge for local first responders. Eric Falberg, owner of 28 Mile Vodka in Highwood, said they're following the World Health Organization's recipe for "handrub formulations." "We are ramping up our production to go 24/7," Falberg told Patch. "Our goal is 700, 16-ounce bottles an hour. We can produce a lot." With about 700 gallons of alcohol — gin and vodka — on hand, Falberg said they are going into "wartime mode." "As soon as we are up and running full speed, we will supply all the police and firefighters we can for free," Falberg said, adding that they've already handed out what they've made.  

The past few weeks have been difficult for restaurants around the world who rely on their local community for support, but Springfield Firefighter's Local 37 are working hard to help in any way they can. In a time where people are supposed to be isolated, Firefighter, Jeff Heubner, says Local 37 is focused on the community. "We know that a lot of restaurants, throughout Springfield, are going through economic hardships right now," Heubner says. According to Heubner, firefighters are focusing on what they can do to help the community, rather than what they can't. "As firefighters, we love to interact with the public. Unfortunately right now, our Local 37 members can't do that," Heubner says. "We can continue to support local businesses, like our members have been doing and even getting out and just saying hi on curbside pickups."  

The City of Anna and its Fire Department are putting smiles on residents' faces. Volunteer Firefighter Scott Bennett came up with the idea to do ride-by's for birthdays in the community. "Really we're just trying to do what we can for our community," Bennett said. In a time where people are ordered to stay inside by Governor JB Pritzker, they are looking for ways to light up the faces and streets of Anna. "We get close to the house and turn the lights on," Bennett explained. 'We wave to the kids outside or the people inside the home. We're not making contact with them per the isolation guidelines, so it's just the lights on, a horn blast, just letting the kids and the community know that were still here for them."  

Mount Prospect's new Fire Station 13 on Rand Road is expected to begin operations April 15, Fire Chief Brian Lambel said, but with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it is unknown if that date will remain on track. "At this point, we are anticipating still moving in on time and opening up, but we are evaluating that date," he said. The goal is for the current department headquarters in downtown to close April 14 and open the next morning in its new home on Rand Road just south of Kensington Road. According to Lambel, whether or not that day sticks depends on the type of regular services that will be provided at that time due to the pandemic and if last-minute construction is completed on time. The department is already in the process of moving some larger items to the new headquarters, Lambel said.  

Fire departments in Arizona went straight to the state Capitol Monday after a workers' compensation insurance company said their firefighters would not receive coverage if they contracted COVID-19 on the job. A voicemail was sent to Arizona's Family confirming that's what 7710 Insurance said, but the company is now admitting they made a mistake. But fire departments are still waiting for that confirmation themselves. It was last Tuesday, March 17, when the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority got a voicemail from 7710 insurance. "At this time, 7710 is not considering paying indemnity and benefits for people who are placed in quarantine. We are viewing it as, um, part of the hazards of life which the general public is exposed," the woman said on the voicemail.  

After weeks of protests and motions from City Council trying to prevent it, Engine 11 in the South End has been decommissioned. New Bedford Firefighters Local 841 sent out a statement about the closure on Sunday, highlighting the fact that the closure happened during a pandemic. The statement said the closure adds to response times and reduces the level of preparedness that the city needs amid the current time of uncertainty. "There is no other community in the commonwealth that is diminishing their response capabilities amongst this national pandemic," the statement said. The statement also said that Mayor Jon Mitchell decided to reduce the number of first responders and apparatus available "during a time of need." When Fire Chief Paul Coderre announced the decommissioning of Engine 11 he said no layoffs would result from it, which Mitchell reaffirmed when reached for comment.  

In the battle against coronavirus, first responders are stocking up on the tools they need to stay safe, including personal protective equipment and ultraviolet lights that zap the potentially deadly COVID-19. Upper Pine Fire Protection District began using two portable ultraviolet lighting devices, which cost about $6,000 total, to disinfect ambulances and fire stations. Durango Fire Protection District has an ultraviolet lamp coming soon. The germicidal ultraviolet technology, made by EvergreenUV of Memphis, Tennessee, is one way to provide extra security to emergency responders when other equipment is in short supply. "There's a personal protective equipment shortage everywhere," said Bruce Evans, Upper Pine fire chief. "It's difficult, not impossible, but it is difficult (to get supplies)." Responders wear personal protective equipment, like Tyvek suits, eye-protection and N95 masks, when they respond to a call in which the patient expresses virus-related symptoms.  

The California Highway Patrol has closed its academy because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Cal Fire says its training academy in Ione is staying open for classes for its recruits. "These are essential classes that we need to continue with," Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said. "We are very cognizant of the situation and we will constantly re-evaluate the situation as conditions change." But with the state having endured years of devastating wildfires, Cal Fire says classes and training for recruits remains necessary, although officials are increasing the distance between recruits in classrooms and in training. Some other classes, such as training sessions for public information officers, are being scrapped for now because of the COVID-19 outbreak. But training for firefighters is continuing. "It's something we don't treat lightly," McLean said. "We're going to continue to review this on a regular basis and if something's not working out we're going to stop it."  

The state is trying to avoid depleting the ranks of police and fire departments – and the prison – after the governor activated the R.I. National Guard last week. Gov. Gina Raimondo said on Monday she has heard from city and town leaders concerned that activating the guard could make it hard for public safety officials to properly staff their police and fire departments, where personnel often serve in the armed services. While the governor said at news conference that first responders "will not be called up," the reality is that the guard is assessing each person on a case-by-case basis. The news is welcome to many communities that are also dealing with staffing issues related to the coronavirus itself. In Providence, Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré said on Friday 10 officers were being kept home on self-quarantine.