Fighting fires while fighting the heat

Terre Haute, Ind. (WTHI) - These hot temperatures can be hazardous for anyone working outside.

They're especially dangerous for the men and women fighting fires.

With the dry conditions, local firefighters have seen more and more action.
     
"The worst part about this type of weather is that you don't feel it when you're inside fighting a fire; it's when you come outside and you start taking your gear off, that's when it hits you," said Terre Haute Fire Chief Jeff Fisher.

Calls like this are routine for area firefighters; however, with rising temperatures, the routines they use to battle the fires change.

"We have more crews, we change our firefighting tactics, and we monitor our guys' vital signs a lot closer," said Lieutenant Doug Curry.

An ambulance is always on sight for every fire, keeping the firefighters hydrated and covering them with wet towels.

Firefighters keep water coolers and wet towels on every truck. They try to drink four to eight ounces of liquid every 15 minutes.

"Rehab is number one," said Fisher. "You're inside fighting a fire, the Batallian Chief and the safety officers on scene keep an eye on our crews, get them out quicker, and get another crew inside to relieve those guys."

Not only are firefighters having to deal with the triple digit temperatures outside, and the up to 1000 degree temperatures inside a structure fire, but they're doing that all while wearing upwards of 75 pounds of gear.

"Go outside and run a marathon on a day like today, and when you get done and you're tired, that's what we feel like when we come out of there," said Curry.

That's why these firefighters exercise daily, preparing themselves for strenuous conditions.
     
However, no matter the weather, they'll always be on duty, keeping the community safe.

"We're gonna be out here to do our job whether it's zero degrees or a 110 degrees; we're out here to do our job."