The Santa Rosa Fire Department announces the expansion of their services to include a new Pandemic Response Unit – an additional effort to minimize potential Department and community exposure to the coronavirus. The crew of the Pandemic Response Unit started their first shift this morning, Tuesday, April 14, and will respond to patients suspected of having COVID-19 or that are experiencing flu-like symptoms within Santa Rosa.

The Santa Rosa Fire Pandemic Response Unit vehicle, “SQUAD 1,” is equipped with specialized personal protective equipment and advanced life support gear and is staffed by one paramedic and one emergency medical technician (EMT) from the Fire Department. Santa Rosa Fire is one of the first few Department’s in the state of California to establish a Unit of this kind in response to the coronavirus.

“This is a proactive and innovative method to reduce exposure to the coronavirus and limit the possibility of a widespread infection within our community, our Department, and the families of our staff," said Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Gossner.

The Fire personnel assigned to the Pandemic Response Unit will follow newly developed operational guidelines that address response, required protective equipment, and patient treatment.  This means, fire personnel that are a part of this response unit will wear additional personal protective equipment, minimize contact with potentially infected patients, and will decontaminate before leaving the location of any emergency call.

To learn more, watch a community update video from Fire Chief Gossner in English or Spanish.

The Pandemic Response Unit is an addition to the Department’s routine daily staffing model, and is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. The Unit will remain operational until further notice to address needs of the local community during the pandemic.

For up-to-date information on the City of Santa Rosa’s response to the coronavirus emergency, visit srcity.org/PreventTheSpread.