SPOKANE-- There have been several local house fires connected with the cold weather and people trying to stay warm.
Firefighters say responding to those calls in low temperatures is a huge challenge for many reasons.
Every winter, fire departments urge people to be smart with heating their home by clearing flammables and not overloading sockets.
But firefighters have to be smart as well to make sure the cold doesn’t affect their response.
In the last two days, house fires in Deer Park, Chattaroy, and Newman Lake show the difficulty of battling fires in rural areas.
Without hydrants, crews depend on large water tanks for supply.
But in cold temperatures, they have to be sure when they respond, water doesn’t freeze.
Although tanks don’t tend to harden, the pipes, valves, and hoses that get the water to the scene can.
That’s why in the winter, exactly who and what is sent to a call is so important.
Firefighters also have to deal with the challenge of keeping themselves and possible victims warm while watching out for ice created by water from hoses.
The fire department says these are all things firefighters here are use to, but must always watch out for.
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