PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — As dangerous heat settles over Florida, firefighters are feeling the strain while responding to emergencies.
“You become exhausted a little bit quicker. You go through your crews a little bit quicker. You have to send people to rehab a little bit sooner,” said Brett Ciskoski, deputy chief for St. Pete Fire Rescue.
With heat index values nearing 110 degrees, fire crews need additional personnel on scene to rotate firefighters safely. When Ciskoski refers to “rehab,” he means a recovery process designed to protect firefighters working in extreme conditions:
“We’ll do vital signs, make sure they’re hydrated, cool off, we dress down, take their bunker gear off, sit in the shade, have cooling chairs,” he said.
Seminole Fire Rescue was called to a shed fire Friday that spread to part of a mobile home. District Chief Nick Bean told 8 On Your Side that, to keep crews from overheating, they maintain what could be described as a two-deep lineup — or, in baseball terms:
“On deck. And that’s when we have a unit that’s basically in place and they’re ready to go. They’re not going inside, that way the crew that’s fighting the fire, if they get tired, I can pull them out,” Bean said.
That approach helps crews battle fires more efficiently while also reducing the risk to firefighters. Dr. Nick Marburger with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital said the facility has also handled heat-related calls involving civilians this week.
“We’ve seen a small increase. It’s mostly people working outside, outside athletes just kind of trying to push through the heat and not staying in during the morning or the afternoon hours,” he said.
Ciskoski added over these last few days, they’ve been holding meetings emphasizing the need for rehab and rotating firefighters.
