TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — First responders everywhere have to adapt to the extremely cold temperatures, including the Terre Haute Fire Department.
Public Information Officer Captain Nick Arnold says that precautionary steps include preparing their trucks, water pumps, and other tools so they won’t freeze. Firefighters on duty also bring spare hats, gloves and hoods, which allows for a quick wardrobe change if anything gets wet while battling a fire. Arnold says precautions are also taken to make sure they can safely protect and transport others in the elements.
“Our gear does keep us pretty warm,” Arnold said. “One thing a lot of the crews also do is they keep ice melt, they keep shovels on the rigs, that way in the event they are on-scene and need some better footing. Especially when we are assisting a patient or carrying someone on our cots, we want to make sure we have the most stable footing we can.”
The Terre Haute Fire Department wants to remind you to keep anything that can catch fire at least three feet away from a heat source, and avoid using alternative heat sources, such as a stove or an oven.
