Extreme Heat Takes A Toll On Firefighters In Recent Surf City Blaze

It's not easy being a firefighter any time of the year. But throw in temperatures in the mid-90s and it gets a lot harder.

Two firefighters from the High Point Volunteer Fire Company in Harvey Cedars were treated for heat exhaustion after they responded to a Surf City structural fire recently, according to The Sandpaper.

One of the firefighters was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center after the blaze broke out at a home on North 16th Street and Central Avenue on July 21. He was released in the evening.

Surf City Fire Chief Michael Wolfschmidt ordered extra manpower and emergency medical services to the scene because of the high temperatures.

“When it’s hot outside, we need to constantly rotate our firefighters to provide adequate rehabilitation and hydration,” he said. “Wearing full firefighting gear and going into a burning building is like being a baked potato in an oven, plus add on 90-plus degree outside temperature and humidity. Firefighters operate in extreme conditions, and it’s my duty as the chief to make sure everyone is safe. So I made sure we had enough help to keep our firefighters as safe as possible.”

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Photo credit: Patch file photo.