Four firefighter-paramedics from the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority based in Tracy were deployed to a Southern California hospital to help address the surge of COVID-19 cases.

They will assist the impacted staff at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in Murrieta for what is expected to be a 14-day assignment.

“California’s fire service continues to answer the call in times of crisis. Our firefighters are eager to join other healthcare workers in this unprecedented fight against COVID-19”, said Fire Chief Randy Bradley.

The four personnel from South County Fire are the first firefighter-paramedics to be deployed from San Joaquin County. Firefighter-paramedics throughout California’s fire service are anticipated to fill additional requests to address the surge and help lessen the staffing impact on overwhelmed hospitals.

It is anticipated the highly trained firefighter-paramedics will provide medical care primarily in emergency departments which allows hospital staff to focus attention on Covid-19 patients. Fire personnel have been requested through the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, which is coordinated by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).