COVID-19 Shuts Down NJ Township's Fire Department

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A Bergen County township announced the shutdown of its fire department on Tuesday after an unspecified exposure to the coronavirus, officials said.

Washington Township officials announced the closure in a statement on the town’s website, citing only a “COVID-19 exposure incident." It was unclear how the fire department was exposed or if any firefighters had tested positive for the virus.

Calls to Mayor Peter Calamari and the fire department were not immediately returned.

The fire department will be shut down effective immediately as contact tracing is conducted, the statement said. Any members of the fire department who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be tested, along with any department members who wish to be tested, according to the statement.

The township will fill in coverage gaps through mutual aid in neighboring towns, the statement said.

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