As first responders work on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, ServPro has stepped up by disinfecting police, fire, and EMS stations to prevent the virus from spreading within the departments.

According to Jennifer Reardon, the General manager of the restoration company’s Plymouth/ Wareham branch, the disinfecting services are being done free of charge as “a way of keeping our first responders safe” and giving back to the community.

Reardon said that the Onset Fire Department reached out to ServPro about disinfecting its station, and the company responded by doing its first free cleaning on March 25.

Since then, Servopro has been doing several cleanings per week, and has served the Wareham Police and EMS Departments, as well as other agencies in neighboring towns. 

Reardon said that ServPro employees use a “hospital grade disinfectant” in a fogging machine to disinfect the facilities. She added that a special emphasis is placed on disinfecting door knobs, desks, and other “high touch areas” that could potentially be contaminated with the virus.

The disinfecting services take two to three employees anywhere from about two to six hours to complete, depending on the size of the station. Reardon added that fire trucks and ambulances are also cleaned in addition to the inside of the stations.

In the event that a first responder comes into contact with someone with the coronavirus, Reardon said that more in depth cleanings will be performed, which will include hand wiping of surfaces and equipment.

For their own protection, Reardon said that ServPro employees are “completely covered from top to bottom” while disinfecting the stations.

Protective equipment includes full body Tyvek suits, shoe coverings, gloves, masks and goggles, or even a full face respirator. 

In addition to the free services for first responders, Reardon said that businesses and homes can also be disinfected, with prices varying based on the size of the building.