WESTERN MASS. – Eight towns in Western Massachusetts have agreed to join forces and share personnel in the event that too many firefighters become infected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fire chiefs in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Southwick, West Springfield, Westfield and Wilbraham have signed a mutual aid agreement in which firefighters and officers can be exchanged as needed to cover staffing shortages.

First responders face a higher rate of exposure to cases of COVID-19. Following Centers for Disease Control guidelines, exposed individuals must remain quarantined for 14 days. The absence of too many quarantined individuals can leave departments short-handed and unable to respond as effectively to emergencies.

Agawam Fire Chief Alan Sirois explained that, if needed, off-duty firefighters or officers will be called on to serve in another town. He said this agreement will not leave any towns undermanned.

“We don’t send assets unless we have the staffing levels we need,” Sirois said.

Longmeadow Fire Chief John Dearborn said, “The chiefs worked together to develop that plan based on what we’ve seen in other parts of the country. We’re trying to get ahead of the curve.”

Fire Chief Russ Anderson, of Southwick, said they have heard from other departments that are facing up to 30 percent of their workforce out.

“We are the smallest of the groups,” Anderson said. “It’s challenging to say the least.”

Sirois said that a significant portion of the costs that would normally be incurred by each town in a mutual aid agreement will be reimbursed by the state due to the declared state of emergency.

“While none of the partnered agencies is in immediate need of exercising the agreement, the fire chiefs hope that having the agreement in place creates a degree of comfort for the members of the community and firefighters alike,” the chiefs said in a joint press release. “The unique collaboration is a tribute to the professionalism of the area fire departments and demonstrates the outside the box thinking that is required to navigate successfully through these challenging times.”