CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Updated 6/19: Despite the hit to personnel, City Manager Peter Zamboni tells KRIS 6 News that fire response capability remains the same for now.
"We need about 94 or in the low 90s to run all of our fire companies at all of our fire stations. With overtime, we are able to do that. However, if more firefighters are out because of health reasons whether it's COVID or some other situation, we could be in a situation where we would have to close companies," explained Zanoni, "So fire stations would be open. At one fire station, there could be two companies; two different groups of firefighters that drive two different trucks. So if we don't have enough staff to report to work, the fire station would stay open they'll just be one fire company there instead of two.
The 19 firefighters will remain quarantined until June 29.
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The Corpus Christi Fire Department says a firefighter tested positive for COVID-19.
In a press release Thursday, the City said the firefighter experienced COVID-19 like symptoms while on duty at his fire station the morning of June 16, 2020.
After consulting with the County's Health District, the Fire Department decided to place 19 firefighters in isolation through June 29. The firefighters include those on-duty and those working the oncoming shift where the firefighter who tested positive worked. Firefighters work 24-hour shifts and both shifts had possible exposure.
The City say the fire department has implemented additional safety precautions for the entire department to reduce potential exposure of firefighters from both patients and coworkers.