A New Jersey fire department shut down one of its stations after several firefighters were exposed to COVID-19 during an unauthorized holiday gathering.
Operations at Verona Fire Department’s Station No. 2 in Essex County have been “temporarily suspended” said township manager Matthew Cavallo in a statement released on Sunday evening.
“The holiday gathering was not authorized by the Township and actions have been taken to ensure similar incidents will not happen in the future,” wrote Cavallo.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the use of Fire Station No. 2 has been temporarily suspended. All members who may have been exposed directly or indirectly are required to quarantine pursuant to the guidelines promulgated by the CDC and NJ Department of Health.”
It’s not clear when the event happened or how many firefighters were potentially exposed.
“Our utmost concern is always the safety of our residents and the members of this department,” Cavallo stated. “With these deliberate steps, residents and businesses will remain safe and protected.”
Cavallo’s statement did not indicate if any department members would be disciplined for the event.
Cavallo was not available to comment as of Tuesday evening.
