Firefighters usually show up at one of the worst times in a person’s life, when a home and all possessions are at risk of destruction.

But these are not normal times. Certainly, firefighters are still in the business of fighting and preventing fires, but they are also performing another service - putting smiles on the faces of little kids, some big “kids,” too, such as the parade of fire and other vehicles that passed by the home of a Franklin Township, Carbon County, firefighter on Easter Sunday to wish him a happy birthday.

Firefighters also are lining up across the country to blow sirens and honk horns to acknowledge the incredible job that hospital workers and other first responders are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging parts of our area, state, country and the world.

Just this past weekend, the Easter bunny was carried around communities in our area on firetrucks or other vehicles to deliver baskets of goodies to children or just to do a drive-by wave. His appearance was very popular in local communities such as New Columbus.

But not all officials are on board with these gestures of good will, not because they are killjoys, but because they believe they are counterproductive to directives to stay home and maintain social distancing.

Pennsylvania officials have not been either as stern or aggressive about these practices as their counterparts in neighboring New Jersey, but Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine are not enthusiastic fans of the practice.

Last week, Levine was asked directly about these “birthday brigades.” She diplomatically sidestepped answering the question directly during the state’s daily briefing but emphasized that the best thing to do is to stay home and practice safe distancing.

On the other hand, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is adamantly opposed to these events and said they defeat the purpose of precautionary measures.

One community which has commanded nationwide attention is Sparta, New Jersey, in Sussex County. Police Chief Neil Spidaletto of this township of about 18,000, which is 70 miles northeast of Lehighton, said these caravans of vehicles are violating the governor’s ban on birthday parties and other gatherings that put people in proximity with one another.

Spidaletto said it is a precautionary step, and this is probably not the type of thing we should be doing at this time. He said he hopes most people understand.

Mayor Brendan Rae of Long Hill Township, Morris County, who also serves as president of the local volunteer fire company, said the risk of exposing firefighters to COVID-19 is not worth the self-satisfaction that they and others receive in doing these good deeds.

These official pronouncements in both states add to residents’ frustrations as they are under stay-at-home orders that isolate them from family and neighbors and have resulted in the cancellation of milestone observances such as birthday parties. They see these creative alternatives as ways to still have some human interaction and a few moments of joy.

While those who are recipients of these grand gestures are so grateful, and those who participate in the brigade get such a good feeling from them, they are asking: What’s the big deal?

Aside from the potential to have clusters of curious children and adults gathering along the street, many without face coverings, officials say the volunteer firefighters and other participants put themselves at added risk. The firefighters, for example, go to the firehouse, touch surfaces and are near each other during the drive-by. It’s one thing when they must do it to save lives and property, but to do it unnecessarily, well, that’s a different story.

Since so many characteristics of this infection are unknown, nobody really can say authoritatively how COVID-19 is transmitted between humans. Given this reality, perhaps it is better to be safe rather than sorry. I am sure a volunteer firefighter who shows no symptoms of the virus but unwittingly transmits it to one of his colleagues or a community resident would be devastated.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com