WESLACO – Fire departments across the country are having a problem responding to fires and medical calls while the coronavirus spreads.

According to the International Association of Firefighters, more than 1,200 have been infected and two have died.

“We've got 3,400 locals; 3,400 fire departments we represent in the United States and Canada. And we've only heard from around 500 of them. That number is 1,200 [firefighters]. So, we know that the problem's there. We know that our firefighters are being exposed,” said Doug Stern, a spokesman for the association.

At the moment, some fire department in the Rio Grande Valley haven’t reported. The number of cases among firefighters and paramedics is unknown by the union.

Stern is asking the public, when making an emergency call, to tell dispatchers every detail and to wait for first responders outside to reduce the risk of them being possibly exposed to the virus.

Watch the video above for further details.