BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — While firefighters face dangerous conditions on every emergency call, this week’s extreme heat has added another layer of risk for crews across the Ohio Valley.
Firefighters often wear between 40 and 60 pounds of protective gear, which is designed to shield them from flames but also traps heat and limits airflow. During structure fires, crews must remain fully suited up despite soaring temperatures.
Departments say they have modified their procedures to better protect firefighters during periods of excessive heat.
Those changes include calling for additional personnel earlier during incidents to allow crews to rotate out more frequently, extending rehabilitation and cooling periods, and emphasizing hydration before, during and after emergency responses.
Fire officials also encourage firefighters to wear lighter clothing while at the station whenever possible and to remove heavy gear immediately after completing assignments.
Some departments also use misting fans and other cooling methods at fire scenes to help reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses following prolonged exposure.
Although firefighters say structure fires tend to occur more often during the winter months because of heating equipment, they stress that emergencies can happen at any time of year and crews remain ready to respond regardless of the weather.
