Cold temperatures can make a firefighter's job difficult in the winter with frozen water lines or firefighters getting too cold.

"When we are fighting fires, especially an active fire where we have suppression lines actively controlling and extinguishing the fire," explained Fire Chief Dale Feser, "it affects fire suppression operations in quite a big way. Number one is we are always afraid of possibly freezing up a truck so as soon as we arrive on the scene, there is a brief period where we are just setting up, so the guys are circulating the trucks, so the water stays warm and it prevents it from freezing up. After we start suppression operations we always want to make sure we have water flowing through the lines, so even when we are not actively handling the lines will still have the nozzles open to create a free-flowing effect so the lines won't freeze up. 

Feser also noted they faced the problem of frozen lines during the fire they extinguished last Friday from the cold temperatures. The firefighters had to break them and get a fresh fire hose and nozzles into play. It happens, and fire suppression is a great deal when firefighters are fighting a fire.

" We did have a brief time when we first arrived on the scene the initial hydrant we caught for water supply was frozen, so we automatically took the next one available fire hydrant that wasn't and were able to establish a water supply. There was great communication with the city managers and a lot of the departments in the city, the water and sewer crew were able to come up and to actually steam and vac the hydrant out and get it operational in about half an hour time, that way we could utilize that hydrant as well."

The school bus was also brought to the scene so firefighters could warm up and cycle them in to extend their workable time. They were also very thankful none of the firefighters suffered any injuries or frostbite thanks to the safety measures they took. It was also a good thing no one was in the building while it was on fire which brings up the question of what to do when you escape a burning house in the middle of winter with no jacket or blanket as well as no car keys to stay warm in a vehicle. 

"Once you're out of a burning home, we use the term get out, stay out, a lot of pre-planning would be beneficial for stuff like this, especially in winter months." Keeping your phone and car keys near at all times as well as keeping an emergency kit in your car with extra clothes, blankets, and some food is good not only for when your home is on fire but also if you were to hit the ditch while driving in the winter. If you are unable to grab car keys and have no neighbours nearby you can always wait for the fire department to come and they will allow you to warm up in their command vehicles as they try to get the fire out and until a neighbour or relative is able to pick you up and take you to safety.