West Hempstead's firefighters take up new safety protocols

Like many fire departments in New York state, the West Hempstead Fire Department has taken up several new protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic. The fire department has limited the number of volunteers that go out on calls. In addition, the fire department has limited access to the firehouse.

“We train and try to instill a certain set of guidelines and protocols in our members for years,” said Andrew Brohm, West Hempstead’s second assistant chief. “Everything’s difficult, but with this, we ended up learning a lot on the fly. We’re retraining our members in a way that can protect them.”

Brohm said that while the fire department has faced several widespread issues in the past, nothing compares to this pandemic. “This global pandemic presents a new challenge for us,” Brohm explained. “We had the Ebola scare, but it was nothing on this kind of scale. I don’t think anybody of Long Island has dealt with anything on this kind of level other than Hurricane Sandy or 9/11.”

West Hempstead's firefighters and EMT units have since equipped themselves with personal protective equipment to reduce the chances of contracting the virus. The fire department’s leadership, Brohm added, is what has kept its volunteers safe and prepared.

“Our captain and lieutenant have done a great job in breaking down the protocols over the past few weeks,” Brohm said. “They’re really the ones who have been leading the charge in making sure that everyone here is safe and make sure that we have the proper materials.”