At least one Chicago firefighter is refusing to go on call Wednesday morning amid growing concerns about the coronavirus. This comes as a paramedic tested positive for COVID-19. The firefighters union wants the entire fire house where the infected paramedic worked to be shut down. The city isn't revealing which firehouse was impacted. The infected paramedic is now in quarantine along with his partner, and the firehouse has been deep cleaned. The city doesn't believe the paramedic who tested positive contracted the virus while responding to a call. CBS 2 was told he worked his shift Saturday, starting feeling sick Sunday and got a positive test Monday. In an internal email, the president of the Firefighters Union expressed concerns for the safety of the men and women of CFD who have to respond to calls.  

After a 30-year career as a firefighter and fire chief in Westchester, James Adams is coming home to Brookfield. Raised in Brookfield, Adams will step into the role of Brookfield fire chief on April 6, chosen from a field of seven final candidates, two of them internal. He replaces Fire Chief Mark Duffek, who retired in December after a 38-year career. Capt. Brian Baldwin had served as interim chief during the search for Duffek's successor. "I'm really excited to get back there," said Adams, who attended St. Barbara School and Nazareth Academy and lived in Brookfield until the age of 23. Adams will be the Brookfield first fire chief who was not promoted to the post from within. Ed Bermann, the retired longtime fire captain and departmental historian, told the Landmark that the village has had just eight fire chiefs in its history, all of whom came up through the ranks in Brookfield.  

Voters in the Yorkfield Fire Protection District appear to be supporting a property tax increase to help pay for fire and ambulance services, partial results indicate. With 2 of 4 precincts reporting in DuPage and Cook counties late Tuesday, 202 voters approved the tax increase while 60 opposed it, according to unofficial tallies. Yorkfield Fire is a "paper" fire protection district that doesn't have any buildings, staff or equipment. The district acts solely to collect taxes to pay for fire and ambulance services for parts of Elmhurst and some unincorporated areas. According to the board that oversees the district, the tax increase was needed to help pay for its contract with the Elmhurst Fire Department. The district has been spending reserve cash to help make the yearly payments to Elmhurst.  

A Tuesday morning house fire is under investigation by the Lombard Fire Department. Firefighters responded at about 10:34 a.m. to the fire on the 1000 block of South Westmore-Meyers Road, according to Lombard Fire Department news release. Crews immediately began an aggressive attack on the fire and initiated a search for victims. The fire was declared under control in approximately 30 minutes. Firefighters continued to ventilate smoke and perform salvage and overhaul activities, the release stated. The fire was believed to have started in a back bedroom, according to a resident that was home when the fire began. There were no injuries, however, multiple pets perished in the blaze. One firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor injury, according to the release.  

The Huntley Fire Protection District's fifth fire station on the southeast corner of Jim Dhamer Drive and Hennig Road is expected to be operational by April 13, deputy fire chief Al Schlick said. Schlick said the district had planned a grand opening event the same day but, because of the growing threat of the coronavirus, public entry will be postponed to a later date. Data from a station location study requested by the district a couple years ago indicated that an additional fire station south of Sun City would have taken on about 600 of the about 5,000 calls from 2017. Huntley Fire Chief Scott Ravagnie had said three firefighters would staff the station 24 hours a day. There are no plans to hire any new crew members but the district still would have enough staff to effectively operate all stations, he added.  

New York City could soon be placed under a "shelter-in-place" order to contain the coronavirus — here's what it would mean for the Big Apple's 8.6 million residents. Under the strict public health measure, all non-essential businesses would be shut down. That means only police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and perhaps gas stations, banks and laundromats would remain open. The move would ramp up the lockdown that's already been enacted in the city, where theaters, gyms, libraries and museums have closed and bars and restaurants are only doing takeout and delivery. "It's taking some of the rules we're encouraging people to follow now making them tighter and reducing the workforce greatly and reducing travel greatly," Mayor Bill de Blasio said, warning that food service and retail could be shut down.  

The head of a local union is concerned that not enough is being done to protect firefighters and the public during the coronavirus outbreak. Ralph Sicuro, president of the International Association of Firefighters Pittsburgh Local 1, says they are already seeing how fast the virus can spread. Sicuro tells KDKA additional protective gear was given out like masks and gowns, but the firefighters do not feel it is enough protection. Now Sicuro and others are calling on state officials to provide firefighters with the information to protect the first responders. "Anybody's concern is that their job would put them in contact with potential patients or potentially infected patients with the (coronavirus)," Sicuro said. The city's first responders are calling on the state to provide someone within their department the names of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus in Pittsburgh.  

VIDEO: The novel coronavirus is changing the way first responders with the Orange County Fire Authority respond to calls. Crews demonstrated what it will look like in a mock call Tuesday. If it doesn't put a life at risk, dispatchers will screen callers. For patients showing symptoms of novel coronavirus, crews will wear their personal protective equipment. That's masks and gowns added to the usual gloves and goggles. Capt. Jason Fairchild with OCFA Incident Management Team said symptomatic patients will be asked to meet the responding crew outside. "When they take the 911 call, they're trying to direct people if they're able to walk and do so safely, we would like them to come outside," Fairchild said. All patients will get a mask right away just in case to reduce the risk of exposure to firefighters and the public.  

The death of Cowlitz 2 battalion chief Mickel Zainfeld has prompted local agencies and grassroots groups to boost efforts to help firefighters, police and other first responders cope with the emotional trauma of their jobs. And one way may be for both them and the public to tone down the superhero image they bear. "I think one of the big challenges is just the need for culture change," Cowlitz County chaplain Doug Fields said. "I think first responders are no different than the rest of the community. … There is still a stigma that if you ask for mental health (help), reach out to a counselor, therapist or pastor … somebody's going to think less of you." There are "years and years of history" of a culture around being tough and "getting over it and moving on" after hard calls, Fields said. Zainfeld, 41, took his own life September, and his death was officially declared work-related due to his diagnosis of work-related PTSD.  

Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Old Fourth Distillery has been distributing make-shift bottles of hand sanitizer. Starting today they are shifting their efforts and giving back to those on the front lines. Co-Owner of Old Fourth Distillery Jeff Moore has been making hand sanitizer with their own in-house alcohol. "It was really something that helped us not feel so helpless. We were able to play a small role in comforting people in this time of need," said Moore. Thousands of people liked, commented and shared his new initiative on social media. "Everybody has gotten together to support one another and that is just incredible," said Moore. At first Moore Was handing the hand sanitizer out to everyone, but as the crisis worsens, he's now only giving it to first responders. "Hospitals and the fire and the police and the sheriff's department," he explained.