Extreme Heat Taking A Toll On Firefighters

(KNSI) – The return of extreme heat and the ongoing drought is making fire fighting more dangerous.

St. Cloud Battalion Chief Jerry Raymond says when it’s in the 90s, or the heat index begins to approach 100 degrees, it changes the game.

“It requires us a lot of the times to call additional resources, either from our own department, or a lot of times, mutual aid companies to come in to to backfill and to take those extra shifts.”

Normally firefighters will fight the blaze for about 40 minutes and then rotate, but right now, they’re rotating in and out every 20 minutes.

Firefighters are also encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Raymond says the gear that protects them from the flames can also cause overheating.

“We’re throwing firefighters in the black suits, which are basically oven mitts, big heavy oven mitts, that retains the heat and then they’re going into a fire scene and those suits absorb the heat from the fire. It can become a very dangerous situation.”

Friday’s high temperature is expected to be in the mid to upper 90s and remain hot over the weekend.

The heat and drought also mean there’s a greater chance of wildfires in the area.

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