Chapel Hill Fire Department cautious with H1N1

No more children can tour the living quarters of the fire station unless they’re already scheduled to do so.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department has joined the ranks of local organizations openly uneasy about H1N1.

Spokeswoman Lisa Edwards released a statement Thursday detailing precautionary efforts regarding the department’s public education program.

Public education events will be honored if already arranged, but will be modified to prevent the spread of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu.

“We live in very close quarters,” Capt. Mary Blevins said. “When one of us gets sick, it doesn’t take much for everyone else to get sick.”

The policy is temporary and the only one of its kind to be adopted by the department, Fire Chief Dan Jones said in an e-mail.

Despite the precautionary measures, Jones and Fire Marshal Matthew Lawrence said H1N1 has yet to affect the station directly.

“We do know that the H1N1 virus is in our community,” Lawrence said. “Our policy is there to protect our responders so that we’re able to provide for an emergency response.”

Lawrence said education events are normally very hands-on.

“Usually what happens when the children come to the fire station is they talk to firefighters, climb around on the fire truck, touch the fire truck, and they touch our personal protective equipment,” Lawrence said.

The Orange County Health Department suggested department employees limit personal and station contact with visitors.

Fire Prevention Week starts Monday, so the station already has many public events scheduled, Lawrence said.

“We know that Fire Prevention Week is an important time for not only us but also the public, so we’re going to honor those requests,” he said.

Lawrence said the department has considered alternatives to events at the fire station.

“We have other avenues for public education, like the (Chapel Hill) Museum, that don’t involve quite as close contact with the kids and adults,” he said. The museum has an exhibit about the fire department.

When students will once again be able to don a real fire helmet, though, is uncertain.

“It is very important to us to work with people of all ages, but especially children,” Blevins said. “We really enjoy and appreciate our young customers.”


Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.