The “different world” we keep hearing about during the COVID-19 pandemic extends to fire scenes, too.
My Timmins Now Dot Com spoke to Timmins Police communications coordinator Marc Depatie from the Wednesday fire scene on Sterling Ave. His major concern is the number of people gathering to watch the fire operation in groups larger than dictated by coronavirus pandemic rules.
“Regardless of the novelty aspect of whatever the call for service might be,” he explains, “the COVID no-more-than-five protocols remain intact and are clearly disrespected by some.”
Depatie says police have been focussing on education more than enforcement, but can lay charges.
“Fire and police personnel who are present, they’re gathering in groups of more than five, but they are using appropriate PPE. The civilian presence clearly is not.”
PPE is personal protective equipment – in this case, mostly face masks to prevent spreading the coronavirus.