When you take steps to prevent fires during hot and dry conditions, you’re also helping to keep firefighters safe.
We talked with Butler Township Fire Chief Chris Switala about this and what firefighters go through while battling a blaze. He says the firefighters can go through one bottle of oxygen in about 30 minutes. Typically, there is a process called rehab where it is recommended to take a 20 minute break after 2 bottles, which can equate to one hour’s worth of work. In the higher heat, that would need to be done more frequently, thus taking them out of action.
We also talked about their heavy gear and how hot it can get inside of their suits. Chief Switala says the gear they have is a balance between heat protection from the fire and breathability. The better heat protection built into the gear, the less breathable it is. He also said, “But even the best balance you can achieve, when it gets this hot, you still can’t dissipate that body heat through sweat because it’s still bottled up by the gear.”
Chief Switala says when the temperatures are in the 80s, it can present a challenge but it definitely is a concern when temperatures hit the 90s.
You play a great role in helping firefighters by trying to prevent fires in the first place.
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