VIDEO: You can often find firefighter Patrick Bryce from Northwest Fire District’s Station 33 drinking water multiple times a day. He drinks gallons of water a day during his shift and even the day before, as well as electrolytes.
“It really makes the difference of feeling really sick after a fire or being able to still go on other calls,” Bryce said. On the calls, Bryce said they wear turncoats that really don’t breathe. He said not only are they heavy, but they can also get warm, especially in the record breaking heat Southern Arizona has been experiencing lately.
He also said it can be tough fighting fires that can reach about 600 degrees inside a house. That’s why he said they wear dry fit material, which allows them to get comfortable and dry after sweating during the heat.
He also said they switch out their crews so they don’t get too tired.