PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Port Richey’s lone fire station is getting disinfected like never before.
A company called Paerosol is going around the state showing off its system that they say is almost 100% effective in killing H1N1 and Bird Flu.
They say there’s no reason to believe it won’t do the same to COVID-19.
The commercial machines cost about $5,000.
“It’s ok to breath, but it also does what it’s supposed to do, which is kill the virus in the air.”
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Paerosol is focusing on first responders who are often sent to treat those who are infected, and on Monday, they visited Port Richey.
“The concern is through the roof. You can’t even put a number on it due to the fact that we are still having to perform our regular duties as well [and] now we have this to contend with," said Florida State Firefighters Association President Robert Amick.
Pasco Fire Rescue has been using Clorox 360 machines for a few years, but by the end of the week, they’ll have enough to put them in every station.
“This is something that we’ve already been using. There’s a lot of stuff that we come in contact with. [It's] the natural progression of our line of work," said Chief Shawn Whited.
Pasco says they have a designated virus team that goes out and will meet crews who may have been exposed.
They spray down all the trucks and equipment to keep the coronavirus from ever getting into their stations.
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“We are decontaminating our shoes right there at the fire station door. We are asking them not to wear their boots inside the firehouse," said Whited.
Pasco Fire Rescue had one firefighter hospitalized with COVID-19. Although he’s been released, officials still aren’t sure if he caught it while on the job.
