WC Wisconsin News

First responders in Wisconsin have a new leading cause of death in COVID-19, and firefighters are facing higher incidences of contracting the virus than their police counterparts.

Since the pandemic started in early 2020, 11 firefighters in the state have perished in the line of duty. That includes three in 2020, six last year and two so far in 2022, a report on Fox47 said. 

“Every firefighter in the world wants to be part of the solution, and not part of the problem,” Chris Klahn, a Montello Fire Department employee who is on the board of directors for the Wisconsin State Firefighter Association, said in the newscast. “This pandemic has just been a struggle to try to keep ourselves healthy, our families healthy and still respond to those calls for service.” 

When it comes to the virus affecting first responders, the report offered a couple of hypotheses about why firefighters are more vulnerable.

One reason is that many have been cross-trained to perform paramedic duties. That puts them more often in direct contact with people who are sick and might be carrying the virus, Fox47 reported.

Another contributing factor, the report said, is that first responders in general tend to be against getting the vaccination. It provided statistics showing that only half of the police and firefighters in Milwaukee have gotten the shot, as of last fall.

“There is some reluctance, and I’m sure firefighters have made a personal choice if they choose not to be immunized,” Klahn said in response to that concern.