FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — In an effort to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 among firefighters and the community, the Franklin Fire Department is opening five temporary satellite fire stations throughout the city.
Franklin Fire Chief Rocky Garzarek said the department's personnel and resources - previously housed at eight city fire stations - will now be distributed across the total of 13 stations.
The satellite stations will be located at three schools and two existing city facilities. Each one will have no more than four personnel.
The first of these temporary stations opened yesterday. The other four are expected to be in operation by the end of the week.
"Each station, including our existing stations and temporary satellite stations, will become single-company stations," said Garzarek. "Our staffing numbers will remain the same. We're not reducing personnel, we are simply re-allocating personnel and resources by company throughout the city in order to reduce the risk of our personnel and citizens being exposed to COVID-19."
Garzarek believes this will improve social distancing at fire stations. In the event a firefighter is exposed, the number of fire workers who have to self-isolate will be reduced.
"We're grateful to the Franklin Special School District and Williamson County Schools for working with us to make this a reality very quickly," said Garzarek. "We are all working together to take every precaution we can to ensure the health and safety of our community."
