Message from the Lyons Fire Department

As everyone is aware, we have a virus that is impacting us all over the world and now impacting us here locally. As the fire chief, I wanted to put a statement out to the citizens of our district as to what we are doing to deal with this evolving issue. Over the last week I have implemented changes within our department to ensure we can continue in our mission of providing our services. Some of these changes include things like how we are responding to calls, especially calls with a potential higher risk to our crews, canceling our trainings sessions, limiting the amount of personnel on a call, and limiting meetings, along with various other policies.

While things are changing locally and globally on an hourly basis at times, this could initiate other changes within our organization. I am not posting this statement to cause panic or alarm, I am posting this as an awareness that we are taking precautions and doing what we can to try to limit our exposure as first responders and to also do our part in trying to slow down the high rate at which this virus is spreading through communities. My responsibility as the fire chief is to provide safety to my crews, staff, board members, and the citizens we protect. These recent changes are instrumental in assuring we can continue to provide our citizens with the best life safety practices, and to also allow us to provide our common day-to-day services in EMS, rescue, and fire calls.

We are working with our local county emergency officials, physicians, health department, neighboring fire departments, law enforcement, EMS agencies, and Town of Lyons administration daily to ensure we can provide accurate information to our crews and the public as well as ensure that our services are not greatly impacted.

There are many thoughts, speculations, rumors, and differences in opinions locally and around the world surrounding this virus. I am not posting this to debate the issue, I am posting this to bring awareness and to also let everyone know we are taking the issue seriously and we will do everything we can to try and mitigate risks to our citizens. A large crucial element to all of this is to also try to eliminate or at least help reduce the virus from spreading to vulnerable populations within our communities.

Myself, staff, and our board of directors are working diligently and are dedicated to providing the needed safety net to our citizens within our fire district.

I encourage our citizens to follow recommendations on helping reducing this threat that are put out from the local health departments in both counties within our district, along with the recommendations from the CDC.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this difficult time. Time will pass, and we will all learn a lot about this experience.

J.J. Hoffman
Fire Chief
Lyons Fire Protection District