The Memphis Fire Department spent more than $2 million on items related to COVID-19 during a two-month period to protect first responders during the pandemic.
FOX13 investigated to find out how it is possible to spend that much tax money in such a short time.
In just one week, Memphis Fire spent more than $240,000 on its coronavirus response. It was during that week, Memphis and Shelby County had every reason to believe a surge in COVID-19 cases was on the horizon and first responders would be at risk. The department began buying items to protect its workers and the public. The cost to battle a pandemic is not cheap, and time matters. During the third week of March, as the City of Memphis was poised to declare a State of Emergency on March 19, its fire department began stockpiling items to respond to COVID-19.