Jaylin Brooks, 32

Firefighter, Fremont Fire Department

Brooks, born and raised in Oakland, has spent the past few weeks working in a mobile coronavirus testing unit, first in Hayward and then in Fremont. The four-person crew sees on average 140 people a day, administering tests for COVID-19.

Brooks says he’s lucky in that the equipment provided the firefighters is more than adequate to protect them, and every day they go through training on how to keep themselves and others safe.

If not, he’d be more worried about bringing the virus home to his wife, his two daughters, ages 2 and 4, and an 8-year-old niece, who has been part of his family since she was 4 months old.

Before becoming a firefighter, Brooks worked as an emergency medical technician and paramedic, but the fire service was where he wanted to be. He is the first in his family to become a first responder.

With coronavirus, Brooks says, you know what to expect, what to look for. In some ways, fighting fires is more nerve-racking as fire can take sudden turns. You’re always looking at the unknown, he says.

Working on the testing unit is different, Brooks says, but it always comes down to training. That and trusting your equipment and the safety precautions. Before going home each night, the firefighters are put through a screening process, and if there is any suspicion, they receive nasal and throat swabs necessary for the COVID-19 test.

“I think we have a minimum risk,” Brooks says, but he has no intention of asking for reassignment.

“I like being able to help everyone get a test that needs one. I’m honored to do it.”