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Edmonton Fire Rescue Services spokeswoman Brittany Lewchuk said the outside heat means firefighters in heavy gear face elevated body temperatures even before entering burning structures.
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Edmonton's blazing weather an extra danger for heat-resistant firefighters Back to video
“To mitigate this, during heat waves, we rotate the crews more frequently to ensure firefighters are getting breaks, monitoring their temperature levels and most importantly, that they are staying hydrated,” Lewchuk said. “Firefighters can also remove the bunker coats in between job duties if needed.”
She said speciality crews like the hazmat team will wear cooling vests under their personal protective equipment while the technical rescue team can continue to use fire resistant coveralls.