NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It would be rough just standing still in this extreme heat and humidity, now imagine fighting a fire in a full fire suit.
Standing in front of the home in the hot sun, it was hard to imagine putting on any more layers of clothing, let alone an insulated fireproof suit, but for firefighters, dealing with the heat is all part of the job.
The fire tore through the first floor and into the basement of a double block home on West Green Street in Nanticoke. The call went out just before 5:00 p.m. Nanticoke City Fire Department Chief Mark Boncal was the first on scene.
"I called a second alarm for additional man-power to come to the scene. Just because of the type of fire, where it was, and everything else and just kept rotating guys out. Get them hydrated and get them checked by EMS just to make sure that they're okay," Fire Chief Boncal said.
Three people were displaced from the home, and one firefighter was transported to a local hospital for injuries relating to the fire. These brave men and women face danger day after day in their line of work, and the heat this time of year only adds to it.
"We drink a lot of fluids. We take our stuff off as much as we can. EMS brings cold towels for us to put around our necks, up over our heads. They give us water to drink. So, they keep us hydrated," Nanticoke Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Sadowski told 28/22 News.
With heat advisories in effect, it's hard to imagine putting on more clothing, let alone stepping inside a burning building, but that's exactly what these firefighters are called to do.
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"Take every piece of winter clothing you own, put it on, and come out in this heat, and then run around for half an hour," Deputy Chief Sadowski laughed.
Even with precautions, extreme temperatures combined with the hefty fire suits can make for a potentially deadly combination. That's what makes man-power in situations like these crucial.
"If you feel yourself getting overheated, you're gonna call the chief and tell him, 'Look, I'm coming out. Get someone else in here to take over for me, and we'll swap out.' The best thing you can do is when you feel you're getting overheated, that's the time to get out. Before you get overheated and go down," Deputy Chief Sadowski added.
Volunteer departments and members of the community showed up with fans, popsicles, and water to help give crews a break from the heat: A small gesture, with a big impact.
"People in Nanticoke always come out for us. I can't say anything more than that. They always come out for us," Deputy Chief Sadowski explained.
Chief Boncal says the Red Cross has been notified and will be working to assist those people who were displaced.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and is being investigated by State Police Fire Marshals.
