Firefighters fight to stay safe in subfreezing temperatures

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- While most people are rushing to stay out of the cold, firefighters are braving the freezing temps to help save lives, but how do they keep themselves safe?

Firefighters wear many layers, and carry heavy gear, but that doesn’t protect them from the cold elements — especially when the temperatures are below freezing. Assistant Fire Chief Doug Hobson says many of the firefighters wear warm undergarments, but once the water hits them, there’s not much they can do.

“This turnout gear is warm to start, but once we start to get saturated – our turnout gear starts to get wet, then it becomes a problem. We look at rotating guys in and out. Depending upon the situation, we might even bring a squad to the scene. Have the guys, you know, sit in the back of the ambulance. Get warmed up a little bit.”

In addition to staying warm, the first responders also have to worry about the impact the conditions have on their safety. For example, they have to get to a call as quick as possible, but if the roads are icy they have to drive much slower than normal. The freezing temperatures also affects their safety when it comes to putting out a fire.

“Then we’ve got to take into the consideration of collapses. We’re putting a lot of water into a house. It’s freezing. And not only that it makes the situation at the house very dangerous. So as a young firefighter, and as any firefighter in their career, they’re taught situational awareness. You’ve got to be careful on a fire scene because as we’re spraying water things are becoming icy.”

Hobson says the crews take every precaution they can keeping sweatshirts and gloves in the truck to change into once they’re done. He also says this is just part of the job they signed up to do.